America's top judicial body will consider legal challenge challenging automatic citizenship for those born in the US.

The top court has will hear a pivotal case that puts to the test a longstanding constitutional right: guaranteed citizenship for individuals born within US borders.

On the inaugural day in office this January, the President enacted a directive aiming to terminate birthright citizenship, but the action was struck down by lower courts after legal challenges were filed.

The Supreme Court's final ruling will either affirm citizenship rights for the children of immigrants who are in the US undocumented or on short-term permits, or it will overturn the provision completely.

Next, the court will set a time to hear the case between the government and the suing parties, which involve foreign-born parents and their young children.

The 14th Amendment

For over a century and a half, the 14th Amendment has enshrined the principle that all individuals born in the nation is a American citizen, with specific conditions for children born to foreign diplomats and personnel of invading forces.

"Anyone born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."

The disputed presidential order sought to refuse citizenship to the offspring of people who are either in the US illegally or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States belongs to a group of about three dozen nations – largely in the Americas – that provide immediate citizenship to any person born in their territory.