Becoming a felon can trigger a setback to one’s life prospects. Most convicted felons, upon release from prison, tend to lose some of their rights. Some of these are basic rights that make life worth living. The United States is one of the countries that upholds freedom of expression, opinion, religion, the right to vote and to be elected if qualified. Now, you may want to know whether or not a convicted felon can become a President. Read this entire article to break out your curiosity about this case.
Can a Convicted Felon become President?
Yes, a convicted felon can become president. The reason for this is because there is no statement in the U.S. constitution prohibiting convicted felons from running for president. The eligibility requirements to run for President of the United States are outlined in the U.S. Constitution, which forms the foundation of the country’s legal and political framework, specifically in Article II, Section 1. According to the U.S. Constitution, in order to be eligible to run for president, a person must meet several criteria such as the following:
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- Being a natural born citizen of the United States.
- Being at least 35 years old.
- Have been an American resident for at least 14 years.
There is no explicit mention in the U.S. Constitution of a felony conviction as a disqualification for the office of president. Therefore, theoretically, a convicted felon can fulfill the constitutional requirements and run for president.
However, it is important to note that felony convictions can have other legal implications that may affect one’s ability to run for president. Please be aware that state laws and regulations will vary. And, certain legal restrictions or disqualifications may also apply at the state level. Some states may enact laws that prohibit individuals with certain felony convictions from running for president or holding other public office. while other states may apply looser restrictions and provide individuals with certain felony convictions the opportunity to re-enter political life, or run for president. Candidates with felony convictions should carefully research and navigate the specific laws in each state to understand their candidacy eligibility.
The political and public perception of a presidential candidate with a criminal record will affect their chances of winning the election. Voters will certainly consider a candidate’s criminal history when they make their decision at the polls. Convicted felons will certainly face major challenges in gaining the trust and support of voters. Also, their viability as candidates may be undermined by the stigma associated with a criminal conviction.
So, although the U.S. Constitution does not explicitly prohibit convicted felons from running for president, practical and legal considerations, as well as political and public perceptions, are likely to affect the viability of a presidential candidacy.
Can Donald Trump Run for President?
Former President Donald Trump is the first US President to pass a Senate impeachment trial twice. Also, he is the first person to be elected US president with no prior military or political experience. Former President Donald Trump has been charged with dozens of felonies in four cases: two federal cases, one in Georgia and one in New York. Separately, a civil fraud trial is taking place in New York. For your information, Donald Trump has been indicted on federal charges related to election subversion in 2020, which is the third time in that year that Donald Trump has faced criminal charges.
A Manhattan grand jury has voted to indict Donald Trump. While specific felony charges remain unresolved, the indictment follows an investigation into payments made during Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Donald Trump is scheduled to be indicted on Tuesday afternoon.
The New York case involving a gag payment is likely to collide with the campaign calendar, with a trial date set for March 25, 2024. In the federal case involving classified documents, the trial will begin on May 20, 2024. However, all these dates are subject to change.
The criminal charges Donald Trump is facing have raised questions about his eligibility and disqualification to run for president again in the United States. Lots of questions have been raised about the impact this could have on Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in 2024 later. Donald Trump may be highly determined to run for president, but can Donald Trump be legitimately elected if he is a convicted felon? Can Donald Trump be the first felon to be elected president in American history? The short answer is yes.
As explained in the U.S. Constitution, there are three requirements to serve as US president, the first being a citizen of the United States by birth, the second, being at least 35 years old, and the third, having been a resident of the United States for at least 14 years. There is no provision in the U.S. Constitution regarding the criminal history of presidential candidates, so Donald Trump, a person convicted of a criminal offense, is not barred from holding the office of president of the United States.
Richard L. Hasen, University of California law professor and one of the leading election law experts in the United States, said that Donald Trump still has a chance to run for US president if he wins re-election in 2024.
In an email to CNN, Richard L. Hasen explained that the U.S. Constitution only has three requirements to become US President, such as being at least 35 years old. The U.S. Constitution does not prohibit anyone who is indicted, convicted, or even serving a prison sentence, from running for US president. However, the ability for a president to serve from prison is unclear. Richard L. Hasen said that how someone can become president from prison is an untested case.
For your information, in 1920, Social Party candidate Eugene V. Debs ran for US president from prison, but there is no history of a major party candidate ever running for president while facing criminal charges.
Can Donald Trump Do a Presidential Pardon If Convicted?
Some of the latest criminal charges against Donald Trump include conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct official proceedings, and conspiracy against rights. The number of criminal charges is in addition to a total of 40 charges in a separate federal indictment, as well as 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in Manhattan. According to Richard L. Hasen, if Donald Trump is found guilty before the 2024 election and wins the election, then he could try to pardon himself.
For your information, Presidential Pardon is one way for convicted criminals to overcome legal obstacles. The US Constitution gives the President the power to pardon individuals for federal offenses. If a candidate receives a presidential pardon, it overcomes the legal disqualification and restores their eligibility to run for president. However, the political impact of seeking and receiving a presidential pardon must be carefully considered, as voters will likely view it as an attempt to avoid accountability.
Can New Presidential Requirements Be Added?
As we know the requirements to become United States president are written in the U.S. Constitution. There are three requirements to become US president, such as being a native United States citizen, being at least 35 years old, and living in the US for at least 14 years. The question is, can the new requirements for being US president be added? The answer is that Congress cannot add new requirements to become U.S president. Constitutional amendment is not an easy task. This is because not only would it require a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, but it would also require ratification by three-quarters of the state legislature.
Conclusion
We can conclude that a convicted felon can become president. This is because there is no statement in the U.S. Constitution prohibiting convicted felons from running for United States president. According to the U.S. Constitution, there are three requirements to be eligible to run for president, including being a natural born citizen of the United States, being at least 35 years old, and living in the United States for at least 14 years. Thus, theoretically, a convicted felon can fulfill the constitutional requirements and run for president. Although the U.S. Constitution does not explicitly prohibit individuals with felony convictions from running for president, legal complexities at the state level, practical and legal considerations, and public perception, can influence the viability of such candidacy.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
