Video:What are the Requirements to Be President?

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Transcript:What are the Requirements to Be President?

So you want to be president? Forget the nerves of steel, the charisma, the skeleton-free closet, the fund-raising network, the thick skin and the legions of loyal folks who agree with your stance on all the issues.

Legal Requirements to Be President

Just to get into the game, you have to ask: How old are you and where were you born? Only native-born U.S. citizens, or those born abroad, but only to parents who were both citizens of the U.S., may be president of the United States.

Age Requirements to Be President

One must also be at least 35 years of age to be president. John F. Kennedy was the youngest person to be elected president; he was 43 years old when he was inaugurated in 1961. There is no maximum age limit set forth in the Constitution. Ronald Reagan was the oldest president; at the end of his term in 1988, he was nearly 77.

Citizenship Requirements to Be President

Finally, one must live in the United States for at least 14 years to be president, in addition to being a natural-born citizen. The Constitution is vague on this point. For example, it does not make clear whether those 14 years need to be consecutive or what the precise definition of residency is. So far, however, this requirement has not been challenged.

These are the only explicit criteria in the Constitution.

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