What year will you be able to run for president?

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5 Big Questions About Running for President

The race for the White House is already heating up. Here’s what you need to know about choosing the nation’s top leader.

1. Who can run for president?

The U.S. Constitution lists three rules for who can be president: 

They must be at least 35 years old.

They must have lived in the United States for at least 14 years. 

They must be a natural-born citizen. That includes anyone born in the U.S. as well as people who are born in other countries but have at least one parent who is an American citizen. 

2. What does it actually mean to “run” for president?

Running for president is all about convincing people that you’re the best person to lead the country. The candidates do this by campaigning. They travel from state to state to meet voters, give speeches, and attend events. They let the public know where they stand on important issues like education and health care.

President Joe Biden is running for his second four-year term. He is almost certain to be the nominee, or choice, of the Democratic Party. The Republican Party will need to choose a candidate to run against him. Several Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, hope to be their party’s choice to challenge Biden. 

3. What are these parties? Do they include gifts and cake? 

No, these parties aren’t about celebrating birthdays. Political parties are groups of people who have similar ideas about how the government should be run. The two main parties in the U.S. are the Democrats and the Republicans, each of which has millions of members.

Each party chooses a candidate to run for president. Then the two candidates face off on Election Day in November. 

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Democratic Party 

  • Symbol: Donkey
  • Founded in 1828
  • Today, it is the oldest political party in the world.

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Republican Party 

  • Symbol: Elephant
  • Founded in 1854
  • It is nicknamed the Grand Old Party, or GOP. 

4. Why are we talking about the election now?

The race for the White House begins long before the presidential election. Candidates started campaigning months ago.  

The next step in choosing candidates are special elections called primaries and caucuses. Primaries work like the national election in November. Voters go to a polling place to cast secret ballots. In caucuses, people gather in schools, churches, or homes to discuss candidates. Then they vote as a group for their top choice.

Dates of Primaries and Caucuses

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Will your state hold a primary or caucuses—or both? When?

 

Note: The U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands also hold either primaries or caucuses.

5. When will we know who the final candidates are?

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By the summer, one candidate usually gains enough votes to become their party’s final nominee. But anything can happen! Follow Scholastic News on the road to the White House to stay up to date on the election.

  1. What is the purpose of the article?
  2. What three rules for who can be president are listed in the U.S. Constitution?
  3. What are two facts you can learn from the map?
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