The United States Constitution sets specific minimum ages for holding federal office. The youngest person ever elected president was John F. Kennedy at 43. The youngest member of Congress in 2026 is Representative Maxwell Frost, elected at 25. And federal judges — including Supreme Court justices — serve for life with no constitutional age requirement at all. Here is exactly how the age rules work for each office.
You can compare your own age against these thresholds using our Presidential Age Calculator and Congress Age Calculator.
Minimum Age Requirements for Federal Office
| Office | Minimum Age | Maximum Age | Citizenship Requirement | Residency Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President | 35 | None | Natural-born citizen | 14 years in the US |
| Vice President | 35 | None | Natural-born citizen | 14 years in the US |
| Senator | 30 | None | 9 years | Inhabitant of elected state |
| Representative | 25 | None | 7 years | Inhabitant of elected state |
| Federal Judge | None (Constitution) | None | Implied (not specified) | None (Constitution) |
| Supreme Court Justice | None (Constitution) | None | Implied | None (Constitution) |
President: Why 35?
Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution sets three qualifications for the presidency: the candidate must be at least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen, and a resident of the US for 14 years. The age 35 threshold was chosen by the Framers as a compromise between youthful energy and mature judgment. At the time of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, the average life expectancy was roughly 38 years, making 35 a relatively advanced age. Today, the youngest president in history was Theodore Roosevelt at 42 years 10 months, followed by John F. Kennedy at 43 years 7 months and Bill Clinton at 46 years 5 months.
Congress: Senate vs House
The House of Representatives requires members to be at least 25 years old (Article I, Section 2), while the Senate requires 30 (Article I, Section 3). The five-year gap reflects the Framers’ belief that Senators needed more maturity and experience — they serve six-year terms and advise on treaties and presidential appointments. The youngest current member of Congress is Representative Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL), elected in 2022 at age 25 — the minimum allowed. The youngest Senator in 2026 is Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA), elected at 33.
Federal Judges: No Age Requirement
Unlike the presidency and Congress, the Constitution does not specify any minimum age for federal judges or Supreme Court justices. Article III states that judges “shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour” — essentially a lifetime appointment — but says nothing about age. The youngest Supreme Court justice ever appointed was Joseph Story in 1811 at age 32. The youngest current justice is Ketanji Brown Jackson, appointed in 2022 at age 51. There is also no mandatory retirement age for federal judges, though many choose to take senior status at age 65 or older.
How Age Requirements Differ Around the World
| Country | President Minimum Age | Parliament Lower House | Senate/Upper House |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 35 | 25 | 30 |
| France | 18 | 18 | 24 (Senate) |
| Germany | 40 | 18 | — |
| United Kingdom | — (Monarch) | 18 | 21 (House of Lords) |
| Italy | 50 | 25 | 40 |
| Japan | — (Prime Minister) | 25 | 30 |
| Brazil | 35 | 21 | 35 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone under 35 run for president? The Constitution prohibits it. An under-35 candidate cannot appear on the ballot in any state. However, there is no age requirement to run in party primaries — though the party’s eventual nominee must satisfy the constitutional age requirement by Election Day.
Is there an age limit for Supreme Court justices? No. Article III does not set a minimum or maximum age. The oldest justice ever was Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., who retired at 90. The oldest currently serving in 2026 is Justice Clarence Thomas, age 78.
Can a person be too old to run for president? There is no maximum age limit. The oldest president elected was Joe Biden at 77 in 2020. The oldest person to serve as president was Joe Biden, who left office at 82.
How does the vice president’s age requirement work? The 12th Amendment requires the vice president to meet the same qualifications as the president: natural-born citizen, at least 35, and 14 years residency.
Use our Presidential Age Calculator to see how your age compares to the minimum requirement for the highest office in the country.
