Scott Perry (R-PA)
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require a Judge to be a natural born citizen of the United States.
A Republican resolution with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment requiring any judge of the supreme or inferior courts to be a natural born citizen of the United States. To become part of the Constitution, this amendment must be ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years. Additionally, any person who is not a natural born citizen and serves as a judge when the amendment is ratified will be removed from office two years after that ratification date.
Yes
- Scored +2
Does this give the federal government more power?
The resolution proposes a constitutional amendment governing judicial qualifications across both federal and state levels.
- Scored +2
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The proposed amendment explicitly clarifies the citizenship qualifications required for judges serving in supreme and inferior courts.
The opposite
- Scored -8
Would immigrants be better off under this?
The bill negatively affects immigrants by barring non-natural born citizens from serving as judges and mandating the removal of current non-citizen judges.
- Scored -5
Does this make it easier for immigrants already here to become citizens?
The bill negatively impacts immigrants by restricting judicial positions exclusively to natural born citizens.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Clarification of Qualifications: The proposed amendment clearly establishes that only natural born citizens of the United States may serve as a judge of the supreme or inferior courts.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Removal from Office: Any person who is not a natural born citizen and holds a judicial position at the time of the amendment's ratification will be removed from office on the date that is two years after the ratification.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill negatively affects immigrants by barring non-natural born citizens from serving as judges and mandating the removal of current non-citizen judges.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make it easier for immigrants already here to become citizens? — The bill negatively impacts immigrants by restricting judicial positions exclusively to natural born citizens.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The proposed amendment explicitly clarifies the citizenship qualifications required for judges serving in supreme and inferior courts. Does this give the federal government more power? — The resolution proposes a constitutional amendment governing judicial qualifications across both federal and state levels.
- 10/15/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in House