Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to prohibit any person who has citizenship or nationality of, or otherwise owes allegiance to, a country other than the United States from serving as a Representative or Senator in Congress, a Judge of the Supreme Court or any inferior court, an Ambassador, public Minister or Consul, or any other officer of the United States which requires the advice and consent of the Senate, or the President or Vice President unless the person formally and permanently relinquishes such citizenship, nationality, or allegiance.

Key Points

• This proposed constitutional amendment would ban anyone with dual citizenship or allegiance to a foreign country from serving in Congress, the Supreme Court, as President or Vice President, or in any Senate-confirmed federal position, unless they permanently give up that foreign tie.
• The amendment covers a very wide range of top government roles: members of the House and Senate, all federal judges, ambassadors, public ministers, consuls, and every officer whose appointment requires a Senate confirmation vote.
• The amendment sets different start dates depending on the office. For Representatives, it kicks in on January 3 of the next odd-numbered year after ratification. For judges, ambassadors, and Senate-confirmed officers, it takes effect six months after ratification. For the President and Vice President, it applies starting with the next term of office.
• Because this is a constitutional amendment, it faces an extremely high bar to become law. It needs two-thirds approval in both the House and Senate, and then three-fourths of all state legislatures must ratify it within seven years.
• The proposal was introduced by Rep. Mace and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. As a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment, it would not require the President's signature if it cleared Congress, but would go directly to the states for ratification.