[AlexM]

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damn, that's confusing. Is Georgia under the United States?

I'm such a noob [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

The states are autonomous entities that are banded together in the alliance known as the United States, very similar to how France, Germany and Italy are part of the European Union. At least that's how it was back then. As such, I interpret that phrase to mean under the federal government. Unlike the "insane" interpretations used for certain other parts of the Constitution though, I accept that that clause is vague enough to be open to debate. OTOH, given that New Hampshire had religious requirements until the 1870s without being challenged on it, it seems likely that the intent of that clause was indeed that it be applied only to federal politicians. Then again, since almost everyone in New Hampshire was likely religious anyway and certainly no one who wasn't religious could realistically be elected, it's possible that no one cared enough to challenge it.