Here’s an interesting tidbit that disqualifies Rudy Giuliani from the presidential race…
Rudy Giuliani received his honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in February of 2002.
Titles of nobility were prohibited by both Article VI of the Articles of Confederation (1777) and in Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution of the United States.
Article VI: […] nor shall any person holding any office of profit or trust under the United States, or any of them, accept any present, emolument, office or title of any kind whatever from any King, Prince or foreign State; nor shall the United States in Congress assembled, or any of them, grant any title of nobility.
Article I, Section 9: No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State.
So, since Giuliani holds the title of “Sir” or “Knight” under both the Constitution and the Articles of Confederation he cannot hold “any office office of trust,” which includes the office of President.
Also of interest: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/10/155241/107
Your analysis is not accurate. Unlike British citizens, those receiving honorary knighthoods are not dubbed (touched on the shoulder with a sword while kneeling), and Giuliani will not be able to refer to himself as “Sir Rudolph.” Thus he does not have a foreign title.
From http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page4877.asp:
Foreign citizens occasionally receive honorary knighthoods; they are not dubbed, and they do not use the style ‘Sir’.
Such knighthoods are conferred by The Queen, on the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on those who have made an important contribution to relations between their country and Britain.
Foreign citizens given knighthoods over the years include Chancellor Kohl, President Mitterrand and Mayor Giuliani of New York.
Dan, thanks for your input! I can certainly see your logic.
Even so, an honorary knighthood still seems to be a “Title of Nobility … of any kind whatever” as defined by Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution of the United States.
That said, I really quite like the guy. I think he reacted quite well (not perfectly) to a terrible situation, and we as a nation have fared better because of how he and his office handled the unimaginable. I then compare his reactions to Mayor Ray Nagin of New Orleans… :: sigh ::
Again, thanks so much for your comments!!
– http://www.JoeLevi.com