Mace Introduces Constitutional Amendment Restricting Naturalized Citizens from Federal Leadership

Clear Facts

• Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced a joint resolution Wednesday proposing a constitutional amendment to bar naturalized citizens from Congress, federal judiciary, and Senate-confirmed positions
• The proposal would create new restrictions beyond current constitutional requirements for federal office
• Constitutional amendments require two-thirds approval from both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures

South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace has put forward a significant constitutional proposal that would reshape eligibility requirements for America’s highest federal positions. The Republican congresswoman introduced the joint resolution Wednesday, targeting naturalized citizens’ ability to serve in legislative, judicial, and executive branch leadership roles.

The proposed amendment would explicitly prohibit naturalized American citizens from serving in the United States Congress, sitting on the federal bench, or holding any position requiring Senate confirmation. This represents a substantial expansion of current constitutional restrictions, which only require members of Congress to be citizens for a specified number of years and the president to be a natural-born citizen.

Ilhan Omar. Shri Thanedar. Pramila Jayapal. All born in foreign countries, none were citizens by birth. All sitting in the United States Congress. All making clear every single day their loyalty is not to America.

We just introduced a long overdue joint resolution proposing a… pic.twitter.com/jTTKyr5Sgb

— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) May 20, 2026

Mace’s resolution arrives at a time of heightened national debate over citizenship, immigration policy, and national security concerns. The proposal reflects growing conservative sentiment about preserving traditional American governance structures and ensuring those in the highest positions of federal authority have lifelong allegiance to the United States.

Under the current Constitution, senators must be citizens for at least nine years, while representatives need seven years of citizenship. The presidency remains the only office explicitly reserved for natural-born citizens. Mace’s amendment would apply similar natural-born citizenship requirements across all three branches of federal government at senior levels.

The path to ratifying a constitutional amendment remains extraordinarily difficult, requiring approval by two-thirds of both the House and Senate, followed by ratification from three-fourths of state legislatures. Only 27 amendments have been ratified in American history, with the most recent occurring in 1992.

The proposal raises fundamental questions about American identity, the meaning of citizenship, and the balance between security concerns and the principle that all citizens hold equal rights under the Constitution. Supporters argue that positions of ultimate federal authority should be reserved for those born into American citizenship, while critics contend the measure creates a two-tiered citizenship system.

Several foreign-born Americans have served with distinction in Congress and federal positions throughout U.S. history, including former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright. The proposed amendment would prevent similar service in the future from naturalized citizens regardless of their years of residence or contributions to American society.

The resolution now awaits committee assignment and further congressional action. Given the high threshold for constitutional amendments and current political divisions, the proposal faces significant hurdles to advancement, though it signals continuing conservative focus on citizenship and governance issues.

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