[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

For a person to enter the office described, he or she must provide proper documentation. The Constitution doesn't say to whom said documentation must be provided, so the final default is the people. The people are represented by elected officials and appointed judges, but the final stop is right here. No, a birth certificate isn't specifically named, but what is the final proof of both citizenship and age? Everything always comes back to the birth certificate, and every citizen may be required to show one in certain dealings with the government.

Oh, the press? While they don't always live up to it, the press are the best watchdogs over government dealings. They really do represent us, when they do the job right. An official can't go around showing his documentation to everyone who asks, so he shows it to the elected or appointed authorities. When the people demand proof, he shows it to the press.

Also, in case you didn't know, I'm not even remotely a Birther. I cheerfully ignored all the hubbub, and when Obama did come up with a birth certificate I said "Well. There you go."

I assume that there must be some federal law somewhere that further specifies how a candidate proves their eligibility for office.

Of course by showing it to the press you confirm things.