To be a senator in the United States, one must meet the following qualifications:
- Be at least 30 years of age.
- Be a citizen of the United States for at least nine years.
- Be an inhabitant of the state from which they are elected.
The Constitution sets these three qualifications for service in the U.S. Senate, and the details of these qualifications were established by the Constitutions framers during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Senators are elected to six-year terms, and every two years, the members of one class, approximately one-third of the senators, face election or reelection. The Senate determines whether Senators-elect meet the required qualifications to be seated in the Senate. The Constitution does not provide an oath of office for members of Congress, but specifies only that they "shall be bound by Oath of Affirmation to support this constitution".
