Washington, Mar. 6 (ANI): Critics have pointed out that Senator Ted Kennedy’s knighthood is unconstitutional according to the Article I Section 9 of the US constitution.

Article I Section 9 of the Constitution says, “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.”

Even academics constitutional law experts were caught off guard when the question was posed regarding Sen. Ted Kennedy’s knighthood.

“Well, I haven’t thought about it but it does seem that way. I would think that as an abundance of caution, if I were Kennedy’s staff, I would ask for congressional approval and I’m sure they would approve it,” the Politico quoted constitutional expert Susan Low Bloch, as saying.

This obscure section of the Constitution was written at a time when the newly formed United States wanted to make sure its new leaders weren’t cavorting with the monarchy and taking on royal titles from its former oppressor.

But Mark Heibrun, a partner at Jenner and Block and a specialist in Article I of the constitution said the clause “without the consent of Congress” makes all the difference.

“Those are the key words. I think Congress can do anything they want here but I wouldn’t expect it to even go that far,” Heilbrun said.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s announcement of Kennedy’s knighthood scored the biggest applause line from both sides of the aisle.

“Kennedy has a lot of admirers and it would be crazy and unpopular to procedurally block this. How horrible would it be for the Republican Party to do,” Heilbrun wondered. (ANI)