Photo of a kid running for President of the United States

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Can a Kid Be President?

Get the answer to this and other important questions about the 2024 election.

As You Read: Identify three rules about who can be the U.S. president. 

On November 5, voters will choose the president of the United States. Even though the election is months away, the race to win is already heating up. Here are answers to some questions you might have.

Voters will choose the president of the United States on November 5. The election is still months away. But the race to win is already heating up. Here are answers to some questions you might have.

What's an election?

An election is a process by which people vote for, or choose, their leaders. Every four years, the U.S. holds an election for president.  

An election is a process by which people vote for, or choose, their leaders. The U.S. holds an election for president every four years.  

What does the president do?

U.S. presidents perform many duties. They meet with other world leaders and lead the U.S. military. They run the country’s government, which has millions of workers. 

They also share ideas for laws with lawmakers in the U.S. Congress. When Congress passes a law, the president can say yes or no to it.

U.S. presidents perform many duties. They meet with other world leaders. They lead the U.S. military. And they run the country’s government, which has millions of workers. 

They also share ideas for laws with lawmakers in the U.S. Congress. When Congress passes a law, the president can say yes or no to it.

If You Lived in the White House

The White House in Washington, D.C., has been the home of the president and his family since 1800. Over the past 224 years, more than 20 children of presidents have lived there. If you grew up in the White House, you could . . .

The White House in Washington, D.C., has been the home of the president and his family since 1800. Over the past 224 years, more than 20 children of presidents have lived there. If you grew up in the White House, you could . . .

Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks

Take an elevator down to your very own bowling alley. 

Take an elevator down to your very own bowling alley. 

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Use one of the 32 bathrooms.  

Use one of the 32 bathrooms.  

Shutterstock.com 

Fly around in Marine One—that’s the president’s helicopter.  

Fly around in Marine One—that’s the president’s helicopter.  

What are the parties I keep hearing about?

These parties don’t involve cake or presents! Political parties are groups of people who share certain ideas about how the nation should be run. The U.S. has two main parties—the Democrats and the Republicans. Each party picks a candidate to run for president. 

These parties don’t involve cake or presents! Political parties are groups of people who share certain ideas about how the nation should be run. The U.S. has two main parties. They are the Democrats and the Republicans. Each party picks a candidate to run for president. 

Pause and Think

What do you think would be the hardest duty of being president?

What do you think would be the hardest duty of being president?

How does someone “run” for president?

Running for president means working hard to get voters to pick you. This is also known as campaigning. Candidates travel all over the nation to meet voters and talk about their plans for the country. 

Running for president means working hard to get voters to pick you. This is known as campaigning. Candidates travel all over the nation. They meet voters and talk about their plans for the country. 

The election isn't for months. Why are we talking about it now?

Last month, Democrats and Republicans began holding special voting contests called primaries and caucuses. These events will help each party choose the candidate who will represent it in the presidential election on November 5. 

Democrats and Republicans began holding special voting contests last month. These events are called primaries and caucuses. They will help each party choose the candidate who will represent it in the presidential election on November 5. 

So, can a kid be president or not?

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No, sorry! The U.S. Constitution is a document that set up the way our government works. It lists three rules about who can be president. 

One rule states that a person must have been born a citizen of the U.S. The second rule says a person must have lived in this country for at least 14 years. And the third rule says a person must be at least 35 years old. So the earliest most of today’s third-graders could be elected president is in 2052. 

That’s plenty of time for you to get ready to run for the job! 

No, sorry! The U.S. Constitution is a document that set up the way our government works. It lists three rules about who can be president. 

One rule states that a person must have been born a citizen of the U.S. The second rule says a person must have lived in this country for at least 14 years. And the third rule says a person must be at least 35 years old. So the earliest most of today’s third-graders could be elected president is in 2052. 

That’s plenty of time for you to get ready to run for the job!  

Celebrate Presidents’ Day

On the third Monday in February, Americans honor U.S. presidents with a special holiday. This year, Presidents’ Day is on February 19. Start the celebration with these fun facts. 

On the third Monday in February, Americans honor U.S. presidents with a special holiday. This year, Presidents’ Day is on February 19. Start the celebration with these fun facts. 

States where the most U.S. presidents were born

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

Virginia: 8

Ohio: 7

New York: 5

Note: Alaska and Hawaii are not shown here.

Virginia: 8

Ohio: 7

New York: 5

Note: Alaska and Hawaii are not shown here.

46: Number of U.S. Presidents

Note: Grover Cleveland was both the 22nd and 24th president.  

46: Number of U.S. Presidents

Note: Grover Cleveland was both the 22nd and 24th president.  

MPI/Getty Images

The teddy bear was named after President Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president. 

The teddy bear was named after President Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president. 

 FPG/Getty Images (Lincoln); Siri Stafford/Getty Images (wrestler)

As a young man, Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, was a skilled wrestler who rarely lost a match. 

As a young man, Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, was a skilled wrestler who rarely lost a match. 

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Our first president, George Washington, can be found on the one-dollar bill.

Our first president, George Washington, can be found on the one-dollar bill.

Library of Congress/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president, received two speeding tickets while riding his horse.

Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president, received two speeding tickets while riding his horse.

  1. What is the purpose of the article? 
  2. What three rules for who can be president are listed in the U.S. Constitution? 
  3. Share two facts you can learn from the sidebar, “Celebrate Presidents’ Day.”
  1. What is the purpose of the article? 
  2. What three rules for who can be president are listed in the U.S. Constitution? 
  3. Share two facts you can learn from the sidebar, “Celebrate Presidents’ Day.”
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