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Qualifications, Term Limits, & Line of Succession for the President

SSCG 10: A Cite the formal qualifications listed in the Constitution for President of the United States.
SSCG 10: B Describe informal qualifications common to past presidents.
SSCG 10: C Identify term of office and describe the line of succession (e.g., 20th, 22nd, and 25th amendments).
Formal qualifications for serving as a U.S. President

Informal qualifications for serving as a U.S. President

Term length for serving as a U.S. President

List the line of succession for the role of president, based on the 20th, 22nd, and 25th amendments.

1 answer

Formal Qualifications for Serving as a U.S. President

According to the U.S. Constitution, the formal qualifications to serve as President are outlined in Article II, Section 1:

  1. Age: The individual must be at least 35 years old.
  2. Citizenship: The individual must be a natural-born citizen of the United States.
  3. Residency: The individual must have been a resident of the United States for at least 14 years.

Informal Qualifications for Serving as a U.S. President

Although the Constitution lists specific formal qualifications, there are several informal qualifications that have often been considered advantageous or common among successful presidential candidates:

  1. Political Experience: Many presidents have prior experience in politics, often having served as governors, senators, or held other significant political positions.
  2. Charisma and Leadership: Strong personal traits like leadership abilities, charisma, and the capacity to inspire are often seen as informal qualifications.
  3. Education: A strong educational background, often with advanced degrees, is common among presidents.
  4. Effective Communication Skills: The ability to communicate effectively with the public and congress is highly regarded.
  5. Networking and Connections: Strong connections within political and business communities can be an important asset.
  6. Relatable Background: A personal story or background that resonates with average voters can also be beneficial.

Term Length for Serving as a U.S. President

The term length for a U.S. President is four years, as stipulated in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution. Presidents may serve a maximum of two terms, a limit established by the 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951.

Line of Succession for the Role of President

The line of succession for the presidency is detailed in the Presidential Succession Act, as well as influenced by the 25th Amendment. The primary order of succession is as follows:

  1. Vice President
  2. Speaker of the House of Representatives
  3. President pro tempore of the Senate
  4. Cabinet members, in the order of the establishment of their respective departments, starting with:
    • Secretary of State
    • Secretary of the Treasury
    • Secretary of Defense
    • Attorney General
    • Secretary of the Interior
    • Secretary of Agriculture
    • Secretary of Commerce
    • Secretary of Labor
    • Secretary of Health and Human Services
    • Secretary of Education
    • Secretary of Energy
    • Secretary of Education
    • Secretary of Veterans Affairs
    • Secretary of Homeland Security

It's important to note that the 20th Amendment (1933) addresses the start and end of presidential terms and provides mechanisms for dealing with presidential succession and disability, while the 25th Amendment (1967) clarifies presidential succession in cases of vacancy as well as delineating procedures for determining presidential disability.