The US Constitution (Article II) requires a president to be at least 35 years old, because the framers wanted maturity and experience.
Rule
Article II, Section 1 of the US Constitution requires the president to be at least 35 years old, a natural born citizen and a resident for 14 years.
Why 35
The Framers wanted maturity and experience. At the Constitutional Convention, they chose 35 over lower ages.
Other ages
Representative: 25. Senator: 30.
Youngest
Theodore Roosevelt was 42 when he took office. John F. Kennedy was the youngest elected, at 43.
Change
It would need a constitutional amendment.
Constitutional text and history
Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the US Constitution requires the President to be a natural born citizen, at least 35 years old, and a resident within the United States for 14 years. The Constitutional Convention of 1787 settled on 35 after discussion about maturity and experience. The Senate minimum is 30 and the House minimum is 25.
- The 22nd Amendment (1951) limits a President to two elected terms.
- The 12th Amendment requires the Vice President to meet the same qualifications.
- Theodore Roosevelt became President at 42 after McKinley’s death, the youngest to hold the office, and John F. Kennedy was the youngest elected at 43.
- Joe Biden was the oldest elected, at 77 when he took office in 2021, and Donald Trump was 78 when he took office in January 2025.
Changing the rule
Changing the age requires a constitutional amendment, which needs two-thirds of both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states (38 of 50). Proposals to lower the age have been introduced but have not advanced. Residency counts years, not unbroken time, and the 14 years need not be consecutive according to common interpretations.
Text and history
Article II, Section 1 of the US Constitution requires the president to be a natural born citizen, at least 35 years old and a resident of the US for 14 years. The Constitutional Convention of 1787 set the age, reflecting a view that executives should have experience and maturity. The Senate minimum is 30 and the House 25.
Changing the rule
Changing the age requires a constitutional amendment, which needs two thirds of both houses of Congress and ratification by three fourths of states. The youngest president was Theodore Roosevelt at 42 (taking office), and the youngest elected was John F. Kennedy at 43.
Qualifications overview
The Constitution also sets qualifications for Representatives (25 years, 7 years citizenship) and Senators (30 years, 9 years citizenship). The 22nd Amendment limits presidents to two elected terms. The natural born citizen clause has been debated for candidates born abroad to US citizens.
Age facts
Joe Biden was 78 at inauguration in 2021, the oldest president on taking office, until Donald Trump aged 78 in January 2025 was older at his second inauguration (78 years, 7 months). The youngest person to serve as president was Theodore Roosevelt at 42 after McKinley’s death.
Based on data from the US National Archives and the Library of Congress
