Americans elect thousands of officials at all levels of government. The people
who run for office vary greatly in terms of ideology, goals, campaign strategies,
and outlooks, but all must campaign to win.
Eligibility
All federal offices have eligibility requirements, some more stringent
than others. The eligibility requirements for elected federal offices are
summarized in the following table.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL OFFICES
|
Office
|
Requirements
|
| Representative | At least 25 years old, a citizen for at least 7 years,
and a resident of the state he or she represents |
| Senator | At least 30 years old, a citizen for at least 9 years,
and a resident of the state he or she represents |
| President and Vice President | At least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen, a U.S.
resident for at least 14 years |
Traits of Office Seekers
Most elected officials are older, white males and usually wealthier than
the average citizen. In the last few decades, more women and minorities have
taken office at the state and federal levels, but they hold office in
disproportionately low numbers. Following the 2002 elections, for example, just
sixty-two women served as members of the House. After the 2004 elections, only
one African American served in the Senate. The homogeneity of officeholders does
not reflect the diversity of the population of the United States.
Professional, Ambitious, and Driven
Most people who run for office are professionals, such as
businesspeople, doctors, and, above all, lawyers. Blue-collar workers and
manual laborers occasionally run for office, but not in proportion to their
numbers. Because they are predominantly professionals, candidates are, on
the whole, more educated than the average citizen.
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