Qualifications

The qualifications of a Senator are set forth in the Constitution.

A Senator must:

• be at least 30 years of age,
• have been a citizen of the United States for 9 years, and,
• when elected, be a resident of the state from which he or she is chosen.

Originally, the Constitution also provided that state legislatures would elect Senators, but in 1913 the Seventeenth Amendment established direct election of Senators by the people.

How long is a Senator's term in office?

Extra Credit
Read the United States Constitution
(This link will take you outside the Senate. You will need to click your BACK button to return to this page.)