Perez v. Brownell

Mr. Chief Justice Warren,

with whom

Mr. Justice Black and Mr. Justice Douglas join, dissenting.

The Congress of the United States has decreed that a citizen of the United States shall lose his citizenship by performing certain designated acts.1 The petitioner in *63this case, a native-born American,2 is declared to have lost his citizenship by voting in a foreign election.3 Whether this forfeiture of citizenship exceeds the bounds of the Constitution is the issue before us. The problem is fundamental and must be resolved upon fundamental considerations.

Generally, when congressional action is…