Too Young to Run? A Proposal for an Age Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

John Seery

ISBN 10: 0271048549 / ISBN 13: 9780271048543

Published by Penn State University Press, 2011

About this Item

200 pages. 9.00x6.00x0.50 inches. In Stock.

Seller Inventory # x-0271048549

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Too Young to Run? A Proposal for an Age Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
• Publisher: Penn State University Press
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0271048549
• ISBN 13: 9780271048543
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Brand New
• Weight: 0.32 kilograms

About this title

Synopsis

Under the Constitution of the United States, those with political ambitions who aspire to serve in the federal government must be at least twenty-five to qualify for membership in the House of Representatives, thirty to run for the Senate, and thirty-five to become president. What is the justification for these age thresholds, and is it time to consider changing them? In this provocative and lively book, John Seery presents the case for a constitutional amendment to lower the age barrier to eighteen, the same age at which citizens become eligible to vote. He divides his argument into three sections. In a historical chapter, he traces the way in which the age qualifications became incorporated in the Constitution in the first place. In a theoretical chapter, he analyzes the normative arguments for office eligibility as a democratic right and liberty. And in a political chapter, he ruminates about the real-world consequences of passing such an amendment and the prospects for its passage. Finally, in a postscript, he argues that younger citizens in particular ought to be exposed to this fundamental issue in civics.

About the Author

John Seery is Professor of Politics at Pomona College.