Presidential Eligibility

Question Posed by a Friend: I cannot find the word “father” in the Constitution of the United States in www.usconstitution.net/xconst_A2Sec1.html.  Was that in an amendment?  I can’t find it in an amendment either.

Apparently, it is in the writings of Emerich de Vattel: Swiss philosopher, international diplomat, and legal scholar of the time, Emerich de Vattel later wrote an authoritative book on the subject titled The Law of Nations.  The use of the word “father” is under section §212 of his book.  Section §212 uses the word “father” to explain what is under Article II – Section I – Clause V of the U.S. Constitution, which requires that a candidate for president of the United States be a “natural-born citizen” of the United States, absent of any and all potential for dual or divided loyalties.  In explaining the term “natural-born citizen,” Vattel goes to a definition originated with the British Royal Family to assure royal bloodline when new, royal babies are born while traveling abroad.  The British Royal Family based the definition on “natural law” or “nature’s law,” not “man-made law.”

This definition later became part of British Common Law and later international law by way of international treaties.  Then, these definitions became part of The Law of Nations.  Therefore, even though the word “father” does not appear in the U.S. Constitution, the Supreme Court must define what “natural-born citizen” means.  To do that, the Supreme Court always goes back to original documents such as British Common Law, The Law of Nations, The Magna Carta, the Articles of Confederation, Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, the Federalist Papers, writings of our leading founding fathers, and other such documents—plus legal precedence.  This is normal practice.  The United States Supreme Court will be the final deciding authority to determine Obama’s eligibility—unless, of course, they shirk their duties and refuse to take the case when it finally comes to them.  If they dodge their responsibilities, they will be derelict in their duties and will render themselves as irrelevant.

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