Vice-Presidential birth requirements

September 1, 2004 12:40 PM

Can a non-natural born citizen be the Vice-President of the United States? Article II specifies that the President must be natural born, but what about the VP?
posted by Frank Grimes to law & government (12 comments total)

The constitution says that no one can run for vice president who is not qualified for the position of president. That is why former presidents, such as Clinton, do not run as VP.
posted by PigAlien at 12:48 PM on September 1, 2004

"Last time I checked, my Constitutional obligation was to have a pulse..." - John Hoynes, fictional VP, the West Wing.

All the qualifications that apply to the President also apply to the VP. Natural-born American, 35+ yrs of age, have been a US resident for 14 years.
posted by nthdegx at 12:50 PM on September 1, 2004

The constitution says that no one can run for vice president who is not qualified for the position of president. That is why former presidents, such as Clinton, do not run as VP.

True, but that is because of the 22nd Amendment, and not because of where Clinton was born. Just to be clear.
posted by terrapin at 1:23 PM on September 1, 2004

Supporting PigAlien: The 12th amendment says, "no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States." So no, a non-natural born citizen cannot be Vice-President.
posted by profwhat at 1:33 PM on September 1, 2004

The 22nd amendment starts: "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice..."

Does this prevent Clinton from ever becoming President again or just via the route of direct election to Pres. or VP?
posted by Gyan at 1:38 PM on September 1, 2004

Does this prevent Clinton from ever becoming President again or just via the route of direct election to Pres. or VP?


There was a lot of talk about this before Kerry tapped Edwards as his running mate. I think the general concensus was no, he wasn't prohibited from being a VP although I'm sure there would be some weigh-in by congress and/or the supremes.

The problem with an idea like this is that it could result in a skewed order of succession if, after a death, someone pulled a quickie and the supremes declared him ineligible to assume the office. The Speaker of the House would be the next in line--and no party is going to take the chance that they're in the White House and at the top of the heap on the Hill so I doubt a former 2 term prez would ever be selected as a running mate.
posted by m@ at 1:48 PM on September 1, 2004

I thought your question alluded to Arnold....
posted by ParisParamus at 1:54 PM on September 1, 2004

Paris, yes, this was in reference to Arnold. Thanks for the answers, everyone.
posted by Frank Grimes at 2:44 PM on September 1, 2004

Or, to flip the party context, it could refer to Jennifer Granholm or Madeleine Albright...
posted by Vidiot at 5:06 PM on September 1, 2004

What happens if everyone in the line of succession dies at the same time? How about if the President and VP both die, but everyone else in the line of succession is either a naturalized citizen or under the age of 35?
posted by gyc at 6:30 PM on September 1, 2004

I think by that point, gyc, the country is too rapt in "O holy shit!" mode to care --- that is if martial law isn't declared.
posted by nathan_teske at 7:07 PM on September 1, 2004

gyc, I had the same question last night. The closest I could come to an answer was this.
posted by guidedbychris at 9:52 PM on September 1, 2004