Constitutional Requirements to Become President
Under the U.S. Constitution, a presidential candidate must be a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, and a resident of the United States for at least 14 years. These requirements are set in Article II, Section 1.
Campaign Finance and Federal Election Rules
Candidates must register with the Federal Election Commission and comply with contribution limits and disclosure rules. They can receive public funding and form campaign committees. Detailed rules are available at https://www.fec.gov/.
Steps in the Presidential Election Process
A candidate typically announces an exploratory committee, files with the FEC, campaigns in primary elections and caucuses, secures a party nomination, and then competes in the general election. The winner is chosen by the Electoral College.
