The piece reproduces the Clause verbatim, summarizes the Supreme Court's leading interpretation, outlines typical exceptions, and points readers to authoritative resources for further research. It uses primary archival texts and established case law as the basis for its descriptions.
Quick answer: the exact words and why they matter
The Fourteenth Amendment, ratified July 9, 1868, includes a Citizenship Clause that states the precise constitutional rule on birthright citizenship. For accuracy in legal and civic discussion, read and quote the text directly from the archival record rather than relying on paraphrase; the U.S. National Archives holds the authoritative version of the amendment U.S. National Archives.
The Clause is the governing constitutional text for determining citizenship by birth and is central to litigation and statutory debates about birthright status in the United States. For quick searches, use the phrase 14th amendment complete text when locating primary sources and official copies.
The exact text of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause
Full quotation (14th amendment complete text)
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
Quick checklist of primary sources to consult
Use these sources for citation
When reproducing the Clause in reporting or academic work, attribute the wording to the National Archives or to a recognized legal text such as the Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute, which provides an annotated copy of the amendment Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute.
Where to find the primary source
The National Archives and legal reference sites preserve the amendment text and provide context for citation. When a precise quote matters, cite the archival text rather than paraphrase, and indicate the source used for the quotation.
The Clause is the governing constitutional text for determining citizenship by birth and is central to litigation and statutory debates about birthright status in the United States. For quick searches, use the phrase 14th amendment complete text when locating primary sources and official copies.
How the Supreme Court has interpreted the Clause: United States v. Wong Kim Ark
Case background
United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898) addressed whether a child born in the United States to foreign parents who were residents and subject to U.S. law was a citizen at birth. The case arose after a challenge to citizenship based on the parents’ nationality and residency status, and the opinion examined the Citizenship Clause in that factual context Oyez case page.
Holding and practical implications
The Supreme Court held that a person born in the United States to parents who were subject to U.S. law acquired citizenship at birth under the Clause. Wong Kim Ark remains a leading precedent that courts and commentators reference when applying the citizenship text to ordinary birthright cases, and it shapes how most courts resolve routine disputes about U.S. birthright citizenship.
In practice, courts treat Wong Kim Ark as the primary judicial authority for cases where a U.S.-born child’s parents were subject to U.S. law at the time of birth. That precedent informs how lower courts evaluate facts and has been cited in modern litigation on related questions.
Breaking the Clause into its operative phrases
“Born or naturalized”
The Clause opens with the paired terms “born or naturalized,” which together cover people who acquire citizenship at birth and those who acquire it later through legal processes. Legal annotations emphasize that the phrase connects two distinct constitutional paths to citizenship and that both are included in the Clause’s plain text Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute.
“In the United States”
The geographic phrase “in the United States” signals the territorial scope of the Clause. Courts and commentators read this phrase in light of historical practice and case law to identify where a person must be born to fall under the Clause, and related commentary explains how location intersects with other jurisdictional rules when courts decide citizenship questions SCOTUSblog explainer.
“Subject to the jurisdiction thereof” and why it matters
The most litigated phrase is “subject to the jurisdiction thereof,” because it limits the Clause and affects whether particular categories of births confer citizenship. Legal commentators and annotated constitutional resources break the Clause into these operative phrases and show that controversies mainly turn on how broadly that last phrase is read, with historical analysis and case law offering competing interpretations
The Clause reads: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."
Most children born in the United States are treated as citizens by birth under the Clause and controlling precedent, but courts recognize narrow exceptions such as children of foreign diplomats and other limited situations.
Use primary sources such as the National Archives or a trusted legal text like the Cornell LII annotated Constitution when reproducing the Clause, and attribute the source in your citation.
If you need direct access to archival copies or case opinions, consult the National Archives and recognized legal resources that provide the amendment text and annotated materials.
