| Qualifications for President of the United States The Constitution requires that the President MUST: be "natural-born" citizens of the United States be at least 35 years of age have lived in the United states for 14 years We should note some details, however. The "natural-born" clause took effect with the eighth President. The Constitution specified the circumstances of the first seven, who were obviously NOT born in the United States because the U.S. did not exist! The "natural-born" clause has never been challenged, but there are a few circumstances in which a legal case could be made. Citizens born abroad while their parents are on vacation are essentially U.S. citizens from birth. The intent of the restriction seems to eliminate those persons that must become U.S. citizens by the naturalization process. Next, the age requirement has not changed since the adoption of the Constitution. Do not be fooled into thinking that 35-year old people were old in the early years of our Republic. Thirty-five years of age was deemed an age at which an adequate number of experiences would help a President make responsible decisions. Lastly, the President must live in the U.S. for 14 years, but not necessarily consecutively. Terms and Compensation: The President may only serve two terms, BUT may actually serve up to ten years. The reason for this contradiction is that the President may have actually started out as Vice-president, and through presidential succession assumed the presidency. If the new President serves out 2 years OR LESS of the previous President's term, it doesn't count as a full term. Likewise, if the new President moves up and serves MORE THAN 2 years, it counts as a term, and he/she may only serve one more. In fact, under these rules, a President may be limited to as few as six years and as many as 10. Franklin Delano Roosevelt holds the record. The 22nd Amendment, adopted in 1951, formally established the two-term rule. A recent pay raise, courtesy of Congress, set the presidential salary at $400,000 per year. In addition, the President will also receive a pension for life (the U.S. doesn't want to see its former leaders having to get part-time jobs!). The White House, the use of Air Force One for travel, health care coverage, the use of Camp David (a retreat in the Maryland country), and extensive expense accounts for entertainment round out the benefit package. Presidential Succession: Nine times in our history the Vice-president has assumed the presidency. Originally, the Vice-president assumed only the duties of the President, but in 1967 the United states formally adopted the practice of actually making the Vice-president the new President by adopting the 25th Amendment. At the same time, and perhaps in light of the new realities of a nuclear world, we outlined the process of presidential succession down to the 17th place. Of course, for the 17th person to become president the previous 16 would have to be incapable. Remember, everyone doesn't "move up" on the ladder. If there is a vacancy in one of the positions, it is filled by constitutional procedures. If, for morbid example, a catastrophe renders the President, Vice-president, and Speaker of the House incapable of serving, the President Pro-Tempore of the senate will become President. Once sworn in, he will select a new Vice-president and congress will select a new Speaker. Nobody else on the "ladder" moves. Presidential disability is also covered by the 25th Amendment. The President may disqualify himself from the presidency and reclaim it again when he/she becomes well. If the President is unable to make that decision, the Vice-president and the 14 members of the cabinet may vote on his/her fitness to serve. The President may challenge the vote, leaving Congress to decide the issue. |