As citizens of the United States, we share a common vision in which our nation provides the highest quality of life to its people. This dream, coupled with our democratic values, explains why presidential elections are so crucial; they are opportunities for the people to elect a president who will maintain justice, welfare, and voice for them. Due to the significance of a president’s leadership, it is no surprise that he/she must possess high expertise and work integrity. Yet, with the loose prerequisites tied to presidential eligibility, many citizens are worried that the selected candidate will not inhibit those qualities. In the wake of the approaching presidential election, this worry has induced public debate, as citizens ask: should there …show more content…
To start, one effect of imposing additional presidential requirements is the hindrance of certain groups of people to run for office, which is unjust because it limits opportunity. For example, if requirements concerning education level or political involvement were established, be it that certain candidates are shut out from even the possibility of serving. This systematic exclusion of individuals, regardless of the intent, is unfair. It sets a tone of elitism, suggesting that certain regulations validate someone as “good enough” to even be considered for important roles. Moreover, this systematic exclusion emphasizes segregation of groups: those who possess a certain trait and those who do not. This line of division not only creates animosity within different groups but also opposes the idea of equal opportunity for all. Therefore, while proponents of heightened presidential requirements argue that presidential candidates already have socially implied requirements (such as obtaining a certain educational degree or possessing some expanse of political experience) and that additional requirements will induce no major change in political dynamics, such a notion is inherently damaging because it systematically stops certain people from running. While intended to produce societal welfare, increased presidential requirements leave an elitist