To be President of the United States, a candidate must be at least 35 years old. This age requirement is established by Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution. In addition to the age requirement, the candidate must be a natural-born U.S. citizen and have lived in the United States for at least 14 years
. The age of 35 was chosen by the framers of the Constitution to ensure that presidential candidates have sufficient maturity, life experience, and judgment to handle the responsibilities of the office. This requirement balances youthful energy with the wisdom needed for leadership
. There is no upper age limit to be president, only the minimum age of 35. The youngest person to become president was Theodore Roosevelt at age 42 (after assuming office upon President McKinley’s assassination), and the youngest elected president was John F. Kennedy at age 43
. In summary, the key age-related eligibility to be U.S. president is:
- Minimum age: 35 years old
- No maximum age limit
This requirement ensures candidates have the maturity and experience deemed necessary to lead the nation effectively
