1. Highlights: Candidates and Elections
SS.7.C.2.9/SS.7.C.2.7
Evaluate candidates for political office by analyzing their qualifications, experience, issue-based platforms, debates, and political ads.
Terri Susan Fine, Ph.D.
Content Specialist, Florida Joint Center for Citizenship

2. Benchmarks
SS.7.C.2.9
Evaluate candidates for political office by analyzing their qualifications, experience, issue-based platforms, debates, and political ads.
SS.7.C.2.7
Conduct a mock election to demonstrate the voting process and its impact on a school, community, or local level.

3. Running for Federal Office: Qualifications
Discussion Points
President
35 years old
14 years a U.S. resident
Natural born citizen
Citizenship is not defined in the U.S. Constitution although it is mentioned 11 times. Natural born citizenship is achieved through the law of blood and the law of soil (see Benchmark 2.1).
Vice-President
The U.S. Constitution does not specify qualifications for vice-president. However, President Franklin Roosevelt’s death in 1945 during World War II (see Benchmark 4.3) raised questions about presidential transitions due to death or incapacitation.
Representative
25 years old
7 years a U.S. citizen
It is a common misconception that U.S. Representatives must live in the district that they represent. U.S. Representatives must only live in the state that they represent.
Senator
30 years old
9 years a U.S. citizen
Women were extended the right to vote in 1920 (see Benchmark 3.7). As of 2013, the U.S. Senate is 20% female (16 Democrats, 4 Republicans).

4. Running for State Office: Qualifications
Discussion Points
Governor
30 years old
7 years a Florida resident
The governor is limited to two 4 year terms. Gubernatorial term limits are included in the Florida Constitution, Article IV, Section 5.
Lieutenant Governor
The lieutenant governor becomes governor upon the death, incapacitation or resignation of the governor.
State representative
21 years old
2 years a Florida resident
One may serve no more than eight years (four terms total) in the Florida House of Representatives. Legislative term limits were added to the Florida Constitution in 1992.
State senator
One may serve no more than eight years (two terms total) in the Florida Senate. Legislative term limits were added to the Florida Constitution in 1992.

5. Evaluating Candidates
The public evaluates candidates based on several criteria that include experience, platforms, debates, and political advertisements.
How does the public learn information about candidates in order to evaluate candidates?
The media: The media are the primary source of candidate information. The media serve as a vehicle for candidates, political parties, interest groups and ordinary citizens to convey their messages during election campaigns (see Benchmark 2.10). The media also broadcast debates.
Political parties: Political parties give information to voters and the public about party issue positions (see Benchmark 2.8). Parties will speak well about their own candidates, and will likely express opposition to candidates from other political parties.
Interest groups: Interest groups give information to voters and the public about interest group issue positions (see Benchmark 2.10). Interest groups will speak well about candidates who agree with their issue positions, and will oppose those candidates who do not agree with their voting records. If those candidates are incumbents seeking re-election, interest groups will showcase their voting records (see Benchmark 3.8/3.9).
The candidates: Candidates will use the media, such as through television commercials, mass mailings, face-to-face meetings and rallies to communicate their message.