The nation's highest court agrees to hear lawsuit disputing birthright citizenship.

The top court has decided to review a landmark case that challenges a historic constitutional right: guaranteed citizenship for individuals born on American soil.

On the inaugural day in office this winter, the President enacted a directive aiming to terminate birthright citizenship, but the order was halted by federal courts after lawsuits were initiated.

The Supreme Court's ultimate judgment will either uphold citizenship rights for the infants of immigrants who are in the US illegally or on short-term permits, or it will overturn them completely.

Next, the justices will set a time to hear the case between the federal government and the suing parties, which comprise immigrant parents and their newborns.

The 14th Amendment

For over a century and a half, the Constitutional amendment has codified the rule that anyone born in the country is a US citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to diplomats and members of foreign military forces.

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

The challenged executive order sought to refuse citizenship to the offspring of people who are whether in the US illegally or are in the country on short-term status.

The United States belongs to a group of about three dozen nations – largely in the North and South America – that grant automatic citizenship to anyone born in their territory.