A Different Natural Born Citizen Clause

Anticipating the eventual incorporation of Canada into the US, the Founders provide that no person can become president of the United States who was not born in the United States *or Canada*.
 

PhilippeO

Banned
Canada did not yet exist at that time, or at least only applied to Quebec+Ontario (upper and lower canada).

no person can become president of the United States who was not born in the United States *or British North America*

is probably better.
 
I don't think the clause will change. As noted above 'Canada' as a nation did not yet exist but was made out up of different regions such as Quebec and Newfoundland. If the Canadian territories were incorporated into the US, they would join as a number of new states, much like the Southwest joining as four different states (California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico). So the original provision of either being born in the US or born and living in a territory that would later become a US state would still apply
 

PhilippeO

Banned
Originally Posted by Mikestone8
Though the Articles of Confederation specified that "Canada" was entitled to join the US.

interesting.

if natural-born citizens clause did mention Canada, some originalist would argue that at that time "Canada" did not include BC, Atlantic provinces, and prairie provinces. Is Calgary in Canada as founding fathers intend ? or will founding fathers only consider "Canada" at 1776 border ? This will be very funny debate.
 

Saphroneth

Banned
Speaking of the Canada-auto-join thing, I've always had a certain soft spot for Operation CANUCK:


Step 1: Late on the 4 July 1788, while everyone in the US is too busy being drunk, Upper Canada declares independence - the message being declared to the UK parliament on this date.
Step 2: Parliament immediately surrenders to Upper Canada.
Step 3: The peace treaty is promptly ratified, surrendering the entirety of the British Empire to Upper Canada.
Step 4: "Canada" applies to join the US, and is automatically accepted.
Step 5: The US wakes up on the 5 July to discover that now they control the British Empire... sort of, since Great Britain has about twice as many Representatives - and hence electoral votes - as the entirety of the Thirteen Colonies.
 
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