What Do You Need to Run for House of Representatives

Constitutional Qualifications

"No Person shall be a Representative who shall not take attained to the age of xx v Years, and been vii Years a Denizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen."
— U.S. Constitution, Commodity I, department 2, clause 2

/tiles/non-collection/i/i_origins_constitutional_qualifications_aoc.xml Scene at the Signing of the Constitution, Howard Chandler Christy, 1940, image courtesy of the Architect of the Capitol

The Constitution placed notably few hurdles between ordinary citizens and becoming a Member of the U.Due south. Firm of Representatives. The founders wanted the House to exist the legislative chamber closest to the people—the least restrictive on age, citizenship, and the only federal office at the fourth dimension subject to frequent popular election. The Constitution requires that Members of the Business firm be at least 25 years old, have been a U.Southward. citizen for at least seven years, and live in the state they correspond (though not necessarily the same commune). And Article Vi, clause 3 requires that all Members take an oath to back up the Constitution before they exercise the duties of their role. In Federalist 52, James Madison of Virginia wrote that, "Nether these reasonable limitations, the door of this part of the federal government is open to merit of every clarification, whether native or adoptive, whether young or old, and without regard to poverty or wealth, or to whatsoever particular profession of religious faith."

Origins

The ramble qualifications for part originate in British law. Members of the House of Eatables had to live in the shires or boroughs they represented, although that was rarely washed in exercise. The founders used that example to motivate the requirement that Members of the Business firm alive in the state they correspond. This would increase the likelihood that they would be familiar with the people'southward interests in that location, but in that location was no mention during the debates virtually living in the same commune. The district system emerged subsequently as states dealt with how to fairly organize their congressional delegations.

Citizenship

At the time the U.Southward. Constitution was written, the British prevented anyone born outside England or its Empire from serving in the Commons, fifty-fifty if the private had subsequently become a citizen. By mandating that an private be a citizen for at least 7 years, the founders attempted to strike a balance between preventing foreign interference in domestic politics and keeping the House of Representatives close to the people. The founders also did not want to discourage clearing to the new land by shutting off the government to new arrivals.

Age

The founders initially prepare 21, the voting historic period, as the minimum age to serve in the Firm. During the Federal Constitutional Convention, though, George Mason of Virginia moved to make the age 25. Stonemason said that there should exist a menses between beingness costless to manage one's own diplomacy and managing the "affairs of a great nation." Convention Delegate James Wilson of Pennsylvania objected to the proposition that any farther restrictions be placed on House membership, and cited the service of William Pitt every bit a counterexample. Pitt, who held part at the time of the Convention, was the youngest prime government minister in British history at the age of 24. Nevertheless, Bricklayer'south amendment passed 7 states to three.

The Business firm and Its Members

Article I, section 5 of the Constitution provides the Business firm with the say-so to determine whether Members-elect are qualified to be seated. For case, William Claiborne of Tennessee became the youngest person to always serve in the House when he was elected and seated in 1797 at the age of 22. The House also seated Claiborne at the age of 24, when he won re-election. The House, withal, has non ever been and then lenient. Representative John Immature Brownish of Kentucky was first elected to the House in the 36th Congress (1859–1861) when he was 24, but the Business firm refused to administer the oath of part to him until he was 25—after the kickoff session of the Congress was over.

For Farther Reading

Farrand, Max, ed. The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787. Rev. ed. iv vols. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1937.

Madison, James, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay. The Federalist Papers. New York: Penguin Books, 1987.

Story, Joseph. Commentaries on the Constitution of the U.s.. 3 vols. Boston, 1833.

butcherhishattly.blogspot.com

Source: https://history.house.gov/Institution/Origins-Development/Constitutional-Qualifications/