What are the constitutional qualifications for serving as president of the United States?
The Constitution says, “No Person except a natural born Citizen” shall be eligible to be president. In addition the person must be 35 years old and have resided within the United States for 14 years. The phrase “natural born Citizen” includes the children of citizens of the United States that may be born outside the borders of the United States. For example, if a woman who is an American citizen gives birth to a child while living in India and then returns to live in the United States, that child would later be eligible to serve as president, if he or she met the other requirements. But foreigners who become naturalized U.S. citizens, such as Rep. David Wu, D- Ore., who was born in Taiwan, or Sen. Mel Martinez, R- Fla., who was born in Cuba, can not be president.
A. The Constitution says, “No Person except a natural born Citizen” shall be eligible to be president. In addition the person must be 35 years old and have resided within the United States for 14 years. The phrase “natural born Citizen” includes the children of citizens of the United States that may be born outside the borders of the United States. For example, if a woman who is an American citizen gives birth to a child while living in India and then returns to live in the United States, that child would later be eligible to serve as president, if he or she met the other requirements. But foreigners who become naturalized U.S. citizens, such as Rep. David Wu, D- Ore., who was born in Taiwan, or Sen. Mel Martinez, R- Fla., who was born in Cuba, can not be president. Q.
