And amendments supercede all preceding verbiage in the constitution. The only way out of being disqualified by the 14th is to have congress vote on it as provided for in the amendment.
I agree with your sentiment, it seems like clear language to me. Unfortunately a lower court in Colorado had already interpreted the presidency as not “being an officer of the United States”. SCOTUS could easily just uphold that previous ruling while not weighing into a states election laws. (I think IANAL)
Most clauses are pretty legalize, but Congress wrote the 14th Amendment in plain English.
And amendments supercede all preceding verbiage in the constitution. The only way out of being disqualified by the 14th is to have congress vote on it as provided for in the amendment.
I agree with your sentiment, it seems like clear language to me. Unfortunately a lower court in Colorado had already interpreted the presidency as not “being an officer of the United States”. SCOTUS could easily just uphold that previous ruling while not weighing into a states election laws. (I think IANAL)
I disagree slightly. It doesn’t specify that the president is included under “officers”, but that would be the most reasonable interpretation by far.
There’s no way, when it was written, they were leaving a loophole for Jefferson Davis to run for president!