Despite the efforts of petitioners, lobbyists, and other external influences that frequently act upon the federal government, three paramount qualifications stand for individuals who seek to attain presidential office in the United States of America. In order to become president, seemingly innocuous requirements regarding age and citizenship must be met. Specifically, the Constitution necessitates to this day; one must be at least 35 years old, natural-born citizen, and a resident of the United States for at least 14 years.

Although these provisions may appear to limit the American dream by preventing immigrants and young people, frequent disagreements regarding the elasticity of such requirements tend to favor a looser interpretation of the document, allowing a greater number of people to qualify for president than one may initially perceive. While the question of whether the mandatory 14 years of residency must be consecutive and the 14 years must occur immediately before running for office is open, being a “natural-born citizen” doesn’t necessitate a candidate in the United States. Rather, the leniency granted to include children to American-born citizens who are born outside of the United States, such as on vacation or on military bases, is an indication of the relevance and thought with which the framers established such requirements.

Perhaps the most well-recognized clause of Article II, Section V of the Constitution, age requirement, stands as a valid safeguard to the presidential powers, both enumerated and implied, that could easily be abused. Because executive orders carry full force of law; because declaring a state of emergency doesn’t require initial approval; because the president is granted total control over weapons of mass destruction, holding office requires use of calculated planning and precise thought so that one can enact policy and protect national security while preventing overreach.

Even though coming of age doesn’t guarantee sound judgement, discipline, maturity, imposing minimum age standards to qualify for presidency guarantees that candidates haven’t only undergone full mental and physiological growth, but had have ample opportunities to gain vital experiences in their desired profession, whether that is; law, business, or politics. The significance of prolonged residency within the nation seeks to lead is two-fold. One cannot truly serve as a moral leader and model citizen, nor represent the entirety of their constituents without first recognizing state of affairs for the majority of the nation, or even recognizing the circumstances of the nation’s most marginalized groups before a candidate acquiring status, wealth, or power. Those who know toil will not fall victim to the elitist sentiments that plagued the government preceding America’s declaration of independence from foreign rule. Even for those raised in comfort during residency, those 14 years serve as an essential window for recognizing the issues that matter the most and for establishing a strong physical connection to the land.

Although citizenship requirements appear to discriminate against immigrants, even those who have gained citizenship legally, maintained residency, and completed integration, the framers’ initial intent was to protect control of executive branch from foreign tyrants whose motives conflict with the best interests of security and integrity of the nation. Given the potential for unjust foreign influence, presidential elections could be used to promote a tyrant, so preventing a foreign-born citizen from running, protects the security of the republic to overthrow the current system of governance. Limiting eligibility requirements include: natural-born citizens is merely an unfortunate consequence of the preservation of United States land, ideals, and inhabitants.