And the Constitution "repudiated this tradition across the board, opening the House, Senate, Cabinet and federal judiciary to naturalized and native alike," explained Akhil Reed Amar, a law and political science professor at Yale University.

It was only added to calm fears during the earliest days of the nation that certain European noblemen were to be invited to become a constitutional monarch.

"Modern Americans can best honor the Founders' generally egalitarian vision by repealing the specific natural-born rule that has outlived its original purpose," Amar added.

Under the terms of Hatch's amendment, a naturalized citizen would be eligible to run for president after 20 years of citizenship.

And Schwarzenegger, who became a naturalized citizen in 1983, would be eligible to run in the next presidential election.

"Some people have argued for or against an amendment because of their feelings about one of these governors (Schwarzenegger and Granholm). In my view, this amendment is about principle, not politics," said John Yinger of Syracuse University.

"The principle of equal rights for all American citizens should not have an exception based on nativity or on any other indelible characteristic," he said. "And these two governors should be allowed to run for president if they choose to do so."

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