U.S. Constitution · Article I, Section 8, Clause 4

Naturalization Clause; Bankruptcy Clause

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Also known as: Naturalization Clause · Bankruptcy Clause

Live in the VFA record

Cited in 1 VFA SI Solution, 40 grades and 1 SI Think Tank idea this month.

117 public items cite this provision · 42 in October 2026 (last month: 0)

Week of 2026-08-03: 0Week of 2026-08-10: 4Week of 2026-08-17: 2Week of 2026-08-24: 0Week of 2026-08-31: 0Week of 2026-09-07: 0Week of 2026-09-14: 0Week of 2026-09-21: 0Week of 2026-09-28: 0Week of 2026-10-05: 31Week of 2026-10-12: 11Week of 2026-10-19: 0

Citations per week, last 12 weeks

The text

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

National Archives transcription (public domain; original spelling and capitalization). archives.gov

SI explainer

An explainer for this provision is in the queue. It appears here once it passes the SI Editorial Standard’s automated checks. The text, founding-era sources and live citations below are complete.

In the founders’ words

  • “The dissimilarity in the rules of naturalization has long been remarked as a fault in our system, and as laying a foundation for intricate and delicate questions.” James Madison, The Federalist No. 42 (1788-01-22)
  • “The power of naturalization, when viewed in connection with the judicial powers and cases, is, in my mind, of very doubtful extent. By the constitution itself, the citizens of each state will be naturalized citizens of every state, to the general purposes of instituting suits, claiming the benefits of the laws, &c.” The Federal Farmer, Letters from the Federal Farmer, No. 18 (on naturalization) (1788-01-25)
  • “In the fourth article of the Confederation, it is declared "that the FREE INHABITANTS of each of these States, paupers, vagabonds, and fugitives from justice, excepted, shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of FREE CITIZENS in the several States;” James Madison, The Federalist No. 42 (1788-01-22)

Public-domain primary sources, quoted word for word and checked against the linked text.

Cited in the VFA record

“Where this provision is cited”

SI Solutions (14)

grades (40)

Showing the 25 most recent. All 40: JSON.

roll-call votes (62)

Showing the 25 most recent. All 62: JSON.

Roll-call votes are listed when the measure voted on has a current Constitution Index grade citing this provision. Counts include only published items.

Cite this page

Values for America Constitution Explorer, https://www.valuesforamerica.com/constitution (text: National Archives transcription, public domain), Article I, Section 8, Clause 4, https://www.valuesforamerica.com/constitution/article-1/section-8/clause-4

Data: this provision as JSON.