How to Become President of the United States

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Prove you are a natural born US Citizen. This is a constitutional requirement. If you are presently a citizen but you were born in another country, you are not eligible to be president, unless one of your parents was born as an American citizen. Really, you want to be as "American" as possible. Did you grow up in a long cabin playing baseball and eating apple pie? Are there photos of you dressing up as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson for Halloween?

Turn 35 years old. The constitution also prohibits anyone who is not yet 35 years of age from becoming president.

• The average age of the man entering the Oval Office for the first time is 55 years old. In case you're curious, he's also married, has children, doesn't have a beard, and has a decent likelihood of being born in Virginia.^[1]

Live in the United States for at least 14 consecutive years before you run for president. This residency requirement is found in Article II of the Constitution with the other two eligibility requirements.

• And while you're in the country, don't participate in any rebellions against the state (unless 2/3 of Congress really likes you). And try not to get impeached by the House and then removed from office by the Senate. That's the 14th Amendment and article I of the
  Get plenty of education. While there are no educational requirements or experience necessary per se, most presidents have had advanced degrees and studied law or business before entering politics. You're best off taking classes in history, sociology, law, economics and international relations.

  • While you're at college, it's a great idea to volunteer on political campaigns (to get an idea of how they operate) and for the community at large. Getting active, involved, and recognized by your community (and as a leader at that) is best done as soon as possible.
  • 31 presidents have had some sort of military experience, but that number is highly skewed to the past -- it's not as common as it once used to be.^[4] So while joining the military is an option, it's not a necessity.
  Seek out a politically-related career. Though this isn't written in the books, generally presidential hopefuls start in the political arena on a much smaller scale. So get involved in your community! Run for mayor, governor, senator, or some other representative of your state. It's the best way to get your name out there.

  • You don't have to do this. You could be some type of community organizer, lawyer, or activist, too. It's just that getting your name in the ring, getting to know people, and getting people to know you is the simplest way to getting your name on the big ticket at the end of it all.
  • The sooner you pick a political party, the better. You'll have a consistent political record, start meeting people that will be totally worth knowing, and be able to develop your reputation from the get-go. It'll be a lot easier to get funding in 15 years when you desperately need it!
  Constitution, by the way.^[2][3]

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