Running for Federal Office: A Right of US Citizenship

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Besides voting, what is another right available exclusively to United States citizens?

The right to run for federal office.

What are the main federal elective offices a U.S. citizen can run for?

President, Vice President, U.S. Senator, and U.S. Representative.

What is the unique citizenship requirement for a person to be elected President of the United States?

The U.S. Constitution requires the President to be a 'natural-born citizen' of the United States.

What are the citizenship and age requirements to be a U.S. Representative?

You must be at least 25 years old and have been a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years.

What are the citizenship and age requirements to be a U.S. Senator?

You must be at least 30 years old and have been a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years.

What is the age requirement to run for President of the United States?

You must be at least 35 years old.

Can a person who became a citizen through naturalization run for President?

No. Because a naturalized citizen is not a 'natural-born' citizen, they are not eligible to run for President or Vice President.

True or False: A naturalized U.S. citizen can be elected to the U.S. Senate.

True. As long as they meet the age requirement (30) and have been a citizen for at least 9 years, a naturalized citizen is eligible to be a U.S. Senator.

Why are there strict citizenship requirements to hold federal office?

To ensure that the nation's highest leaders have a deep-rooted and undivided loyalty to the United States, its Constitution, and its people.

In addition to citizenship and age, what is the residency requirement for members of Congress (both Senators and Representatives)?

They must be an inhabitant of the state they are elected to represent at the time of the election.

What is the term length for a U.S. Representative?

2 years.

What is the term length for a U.S. Senator?

6 years.

What is the term length for the President of the United States?

4 years.

Can a citizen of a U.S. territory, like Puerto Rico, run for U.S. President?

Yes, if they are a natural-born citizen, are at least 35 years old, and have been a resident within the United States for 14 years. People born in Puerto Rico are natural-born U.S. citizens, and residency in a U.S. territory counts towards this requirement.