One portion of the Reconstruction Amendments was to preserve
"birthright citizenship" as a Constitutional Right. This was very
much an 18th century idea, from an age when people were far less portable, and
almost all lived their whole lives within a few miles of their birthplace. Birthright citizenship is United
States citizenship picked up by virtue of the circumstances of birth. It is
different with citizenship acquired in other ways, for example by naturalization later
in life. Birthright citizenship may be conferred by jus soli or jus
sanguinis. Under United
States law, U.S. citizenship is spontaneously allowed to any person born
within and subject to the authority of the United
States. This comprises the regions of Puerto
Rico, the Marianas and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and also applies to
children born elsewhere in the world to U.S. citizens (with certain
exceptions).
