What are the requirements to be president?
Answer
At least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen, U.S. resident for 14 years
Explanation
To serve as President, a person must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, at least 35 years old, and a resident of the United States for at least 14 years. These requirements are set by Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution. The natural-born citizen requirement is the most distinctive of the three. To be considered natural-born, a person must have been a U.S. citizen at the time of birth, either by being born on U.S. soil (including territories) or by being born to a U.S. citizen parent abroad under conditions established by federal law.
Naturalized citizens, no matter how long they have lived in the United States, are not eligible to serve as President. This requirement does not apply to other federal offices. Senators, representatives, federal judges, and Cabinet officers can be naturalized citizens. The natural-born requirement was added at the 1787 Constitutional Convention partly out of concern that a foreign-born leader might have divided loyalties. Henry Kissinger, born in Germany, served as Secretary of State but could never have run for President.
The 35-year minimum age was meant to ensure the President had reached a level of maturity and experience appropriate for the office. The framers set 25 as the minimum age for the House and 30 for the Senate, with 35 reserved for the highest executive office. The 14-year residency requirement does not have to be the 14 years immediately before election. The Constitution simply says the person must have been 14 years a Resident within the United States. Herbert Hoover, who lived abroad for parts of his life, qualified because his total years of U.S. residency exceeded 14.
Beyond these three requirements, no other constitutional qualifications apply. The President does not need a college degree, prior political experience, or military service. The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, adds that no person can be elected President more than twice. The 14th Amendment, Section 3, disqualifies anyone who took an oath to support the Constitution and then engaged in insurrection.
Why this matters for your test
The requirements are written directly into the Constitution and reflect deliberate choices the framers made about who should be eligible to lead the country.
Source: USCIS 128 Civics Questions (2025)
