KNOW THE LAW

What Is Birthright Citizenship in the Fourteeth Amendment?

Birthright citizenship is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” - US Constitution

The Citizenship Clause declared that everyone born on U.S. soil is a citizen of the United States. The provision overturned Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) and ended a decades-long debate about whether free black people were U.S. citizens. Finally, natural-born African Americans could lay claim to the promise of equal citizenship.

Read more at: https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/draftingtable/item/amendment-xiv

Link to How to Amend the Constitution: lwvsonoma.org/AmendConstitution

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

The current Executive branch is attempting to significantly modify the Citizenship Clause of 14th amendment of the Constitution. Modifying any provision of the Constitution cannot be accomplished by an Executive Order. Modification of the Constitution, including the existing amendments, may only be accomplished by either a Constitutional Convention or legislation passed by Congress and then ratified by three-quarters of the states.

Link to more civics topics: lwvsonoma.org/CivicsMenu