Only natural-born citizens qualify for presidency, which excludes Ted Cruz

How can American people legally vote for Ted Cruz if he is not a "natural-born citizen?"

Cruz must document and display his certificate of birth in the United States, or the American people cannot vote for him because it is illegal to vote for a presidential candidate born outside the U.S. and its territories. John McCain was born in Panama, on territory held by the U.S. His parents were both "natural-born citizens" employed by the military in Panama on U.S. territory from 1903-1979. No question of legality.

Marco Rubio is not a "natural-born citizen." He has suspended his bid for election. Ted Cruz is not a "natural-born citizen" and must be dealt with according to the Constitution.

Article 2, section 1, Clause 5, clearly states: "No person except a natural born citizen or a (citizen) of the United States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution shall be eligible to the office of president; Neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained the age of thirty-five years and been fourteen years a resident within the United States."

The inclusion "or citizen" refers to the Europeans coming to America already born and were classified as citizens in order to form the Constitution.

Natural-born citizenship is acquired through "jus sanguinis" (right of the blood) and "jus soli" (right of the soil), which means born of one or two parents who are U.S. citizens and that birth of child occurred in the United States and or its territories (see Emer de Vattel, "The Law of Nations," sections 212-217).

Natural-born citizenship is very compatible with the writing of the framers of the Constitution, elected to protect America from individuals of other countries obtaining citizenship that could lead to governmental positions and taking control -- as aliens of our freedom.

Marilyn Peterson

Bradenton

This story was originally published April 2, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Only natural-born citizens qualify for presidency, which excludes Ted Cruz ."