Trump v. Barbara · ¶225

The Citizenship Clause did not change the Civil Rights Act’s rule. The Clause and the Act were passed by the same Congress during the same session. See Hurd, 334 U. S., at 32. Senator Howard, who proposed the Citizenship Clause, believed that it hardly warranted discussion because Congress had just enacted the same rule in the Civil Rights Act. The Senate had “so fully discussed” “the question of citizenship” as “not to need any further elucidation.” Cong. Globe, 39th Cong., 1st Sess., at 2890. He also stated that the Citizenship Clause “is simply declaratory of what I regard as the law of the land already.” Ibid. Senator Trumbull, who had introduced the Civil Rights Act’s citizenship provision, confirmed that “[t]he object to be arrived at is the same.” Id., at 2893–2894. Senator Johnson had “no doubt” that “all that this amendment provides is, that all persons born in the United…

slip opinion, revised 7/01/26
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