Questão 13

(FUVEST 2011 — 2ª Fase - 2º dia)

In the latest move to inflame the racially tinged issue ahead of November’s congressional and state elections, Republican senators say they intend to call hearings on overturning the 14th amendment to the constitution, which grants citizenship to anyone born in the US. Leading Republicans have denounced the provision as outdated, saying it encourages “invasion by birth canal” in which illegal immigrants smuggle themselves into the US to have “anchor babies”. The change is being pushed by the Republican whip in the Senate, John Kyl, and senator Lindsey Graham, who said that “birthright citizenship is a mistake”. The 14th amendment was adopted in 1868 after the civil war to block laws that prevented former slaves from becoming US citizens. Reform must be approved by two-thirds of both houses of Congress and ratified by three-quarters of US states or by calling a convention by the states.

Guardian.co.uk. 3 August 2010. Adaptado.

Baseando-se nas informações fornecidas pelo texto, responda às questões a seguir:

a) O que a 14ª emenda à Constituição dos Estados Unidos assegura e por que ela foi adotada?

b) Qual é a questão polêmica apresentada no texto com relação aos imigrantes?