Running for Congress in the United States has three federal requirements, in addition to any requirements that might be set by each state government. In order to fulfill federal regulations, an individual who desires to run for congress must meet minimum age requirements, minimum U.S. citizenship requirements and residency requirements. State regulations differ from state to state, so it is best for someone who is interested in becoming a congressperson to check with his or her specific state to ensure that all additional requirements are met. Although they are not necessarily requirements, other criteria might be viewed as important when running for Congress, such as leadership, people skills, public speaking ability and organizational skills.
In order to run for a spot in the U.S. House of Representatives, an individual must be a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, be at least 25 years old and reside in the state in which he or she hopes to serve. To serve in the U.S. Senate, an individual must be a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, be at least 30 years old and reside in the state where he or she wants to serve. Each state might have other requirements that need to be met in order to serve as a member of Congress from that state, so each individual should check with his or her election office for specific information.
Leadership skills might be considered an important aspect of running for congress as well. In order to effect change, a person must know how to lead people during good times and bad. Possessing this skill might mean the difference between a political leader who can get a specific job done and one who cannot.
People skills are another important aspect of trying to enter congress. Although political issues are important to most registered voters, voting for a person they like and to whom they can relate also is extremely important. Someone might have the right stances on all of the important issues, but if he or she is not likable and personable, he or she might not get elected.
An ability to speak to the public and campaign officials in a kind and considerate yet commanding way might also be considered essential when running for Congress. The job entails a great deal of public speaking, so practicing and achieving great skill in this area is important. Effectively communicating to constituents and workers alike will go a long way in making others comfortable with the individual as a candidate.
Organizational ability is important from a practical standpoint. Someone who plans on running for Congress will not be able to do it alone, so he or she will need a team to help out. Being able to organize a campaign team, campaign treasurer and advisers might help a campaign be more effective and run more smoothly.