Jessica Gunderson - Understanding Your Role in Elections

Anyone can run for office in America. Well, almost anyone. To run for president, you have to be born in the United States. You must be at least 35 years old. You also must have lived in this country for at least 14 years.

To be a U.S. senator, you have to be a U.S. citizen for at least nine years. You must be at least 30 years old and live in the state you want to represent.

To be a U.S. representative, you must be a U.S. citizen for at least seven years. You have to be at least 25 years old and live in the state you want to represent.

Catherine Cortez Masto was sworn in as a senator for Nevada in 2003.

If youve watched TV during an election year, youve seen commercials about . A campaign is a series of activities that encourage citizens to vote for a certain politician.

Candidates campaign in many different ways. Their supporters put advertisements on TV, radio, and social media. Volunteers distribute flyers, buttons, T-shirts, and bumper stickers.

Many candidates tour the state or country and hold . During the rallies, candidates speak to crowds about what they will do if elected. Sometimes supporters speak at the rallies too. They tell the crowds why they support the candidate.

Candidates often have slogans. A slogan is a catchy phrase that sums up a candidates goal. In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trumps campaign slogan was Make America Great Again! Slogans are printed on hats, shirts, and buttons for supporters to wear.

Candidates also participate in asks the candidates specific questions about issues that voters feel are important. The candidates take turns answering the questions. They are usually given a set amount of time to answer. Debates help voters understand each candidates plan and viewpoints. You may be able to attend the debates but most people watch them on TV or online.

Campaigns can be very expensive. A candidate may pay for some of his or her campaign. Citizens also donate money to candidates they believe in. Campaign funding also comes from political action committees, or PACs. PACs are created by political groups and large corporations. PACs donate money to candidates based on who they think will best serve their interests.

Most candidates running for office represent political parties. A political party is a group that stands for certain ideas and policies. Before from each state attend the convention.

These delegates vote for their partys candidate. Delegates base their votes on the winner of the primary election for their state. The candidate chosen at the convention is the presidential for that party.