Governor backs amendment to let foreign-born be president

When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his support for a
constitutional amendment that would allow foreign-born citizens to
be eligible for the presidency, he led some to believe he may have
thoughts of rising from actor to president, similar to Ronald
Reagan’s path.

Proposed by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the Equal Opportunity to
Govern Amendment would allow anyone who has been a naturalized U.S.
citizen for 20 years to run for president.

The proposed amendment would modify Article II, Section I,
Clause V of the U.S. Constitution, which currently states that only
a natural-born citizen can serve as president.

Though Schwarzenegger did not announce an intention to run for
the presidency, the amendment would allow for this possibility.

According to The Associated Press, Schwarzenegger, who became a
U.S. citizen in 1983, has openly voiced support for the proposal
and sees no reason why immigrants should not be able to seek the
presidency.

Though it is not out of the question that the Constitution could
be amended, the current political climate suggests this change is a
remote possibility.

“The chances are slim,” said Tim Groseclose, a UCLA
political science professor. “Over the past 30 years, only
one amendment has been added to the Constitution, despite several
attempts.”

Matt Baum, an assistant political science professor,
concurred, adding that there is no momentum for such a move.

“The likelihood of passing an amendment is not great under
any circumstance. Now especially, the possibility is remote
because there is no national drive to make this change. There is no
perceived grounds well in favor of it,” he said.

An amendment must pass by a two-thirds vote in both the House of
Representatives and the Senate. It would also have to be ratified
by three-fourths of state legislatures or constitutional
conventions.

“This typically requires large majorities and a firestorm
of public demand,” said Baum. “There is no such demand
right now.”

If Hatch’s proposed amendment were to pass, it remains
unlikely it would do so during Schwarzenegger’s political
career. Constitutional amendments often take years to ratify,
and even if Schwarzenegger were in a viable position to receive the
Republican nomination, it is unlikely an amendment would be passed
in time.

“There is no way a constitutional amendment will get
passed in time for him,” said political science Professor
Barbara Sinclair.

In the event the amendment were to be called to a vote any time
soon, there is still a low likelihood it would be taken seriously
by either house of Congress.

“I suspect that if the amendment actually gets a roll call
vote, then members of Congress will quickly perceive it as the
“˜Arnold for President’ Amendment,” Groseclose
said.

To pass, the amendment would require support from at least
one-third of Democrats in Congress.

“I suspect that will be the biggest hurdle for the
amendment,” Groseclose added.

Another obstacle for Schwarzenegger could be his limited career
in politics.

“The ability of Schwarzenegger to run is remote. He is a
political neophyte still in his honeymoon period. It will take six
or seven years to know whether he is an effective politician or
not,” Baum said.

Unlike celebrity politician Ronald Reagan, Schwarzenegger had no
serious record in public politics before his run for governor.

Though the two politicians are similar in their ambitious,
charismatic natures, Reagan had years of governing experience
before he ran for governor of California and then for the
presidency.

“I believe that parallels with Reagan are
deceptive,” said Daniel Lowenstein, a professor at the UCLA
School of Law.

“Although Reagan never held elected office before being
elected governor, he had a long career in political life,” he
said, referring to the former president’s extensive political
activism, which included campaigning for other presidents.

Unlike Schwarzenegger, Reagan’s views on public affairs
were well known in California before he ran for governor,
Lowenstein said. He served as the president of the Screen
Actors Guild and was involved in the opposition to Communist
control.

Baum said even if Schwarzenegger were interested in the
presidency, it is too early for him to seriously consider it
““ and added that regardless of Schwarzenegger’s
interest, the amendment won’t pass anytime soon.