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606 points saikatsg | 10 comments | | HN request time: 0.002s | source | bottom
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ralfd ◴[] No.43929524[source]
Is Pope Leo eligible to be voted President of the United States?
replies(4): >>43929534 #>>43929554 #>>43930399 #>>43930414 #
1. tantalor ◴[] No.43929554[source]
Article I, Section 9, Clause 8:

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

replies(6): >>43929637 #>>43929693 #>>43929743 #>>43930016 #>>43930671 #>>43947507 #
2. peeters ◴[] No.43929637[source]
This doesn't seem to comment on preexisting titles if I'm reading it correctly?
replies(1): >>43929703 #
3. andyjohnson0 ◴[] No.43929693[source]
That just prevents the awarding of titles by the US, and prevents people already holding an office of the US from accepting a title. It doesnt seem to me to prevent anyone already holding a title from being eligible for office.
4. henryfjordan ◴[] No.43929703[source]
I'd read it as requiring the Pope to renounce his title if he wanted to be President of the US unless congress votes that it's OK.

But also the emolument clause is effectively unenforceable and the whole "insurgent" ruling basically made it impossible to challenge a presidential candidate. If Trump wants a 3rd term, for instance, I'm not sure what mechanism would prevent him at this point.

5. runako ◴[] No.43929743[source]
FWIW this has been read out of the Constitution. I doubt it would be applied in practice.
6. ◴[] No.43930016[source]
7. 9dev ◴[] No.43930671[source]
Does that mean a president could be knighted, as long as it's a queen or princess doing the knighting?
replies(2): >>43930872 #>>43933877 #
8. cj ◴[] No.43930872[source]
Quick googling on honorary knighthood:

> [Honorary knighthoods] are a way for the UK to recognize the achievements of individuals who are not UK citizens. They are awarded on the advice of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and are conferred by the Crown.

> In the US, accepting a title of nobility from a foreign state is prohibited without the consent of Congress. However, this prohibition is different from accepting an honorary knighthood, which is more of a recognition or award rather than a title of nobility.

9. wl ◴[] No.43933877[source]
"foreign State" still would seem to prohibit that.
10. ◴[] No.43947507[source]