What are the qualifications to be a Senator?

It is very difficult to become a Senator. Many Senators were lawyers of some kind first; while this is not a requirement, it is very common in the Senate.

Having a strong foundation of Constitutional law is somewhat essential to being a Senator. If a person running for the Senate does not have any education or knowledge pertaining to this section of the law, they must learn as much as they can before getting elected.

Some Senators have successful backgrounds in business. Certain Senators have run or held high positions in large corporations or companies.

Getting elected to public office is a difficult task at nearly every level, and since there are 100 members serving in the Senate, becoming a Senator is one of the hardest forms of public office to obtain.

Many Senators have careers in public service prior to being elected to the Senate, some in the House of Representatives or another more local position.

There are no standard education requirements for Senators; however, nearly all Senators have college degrees, and many have post-graduate education in the fields of political science, law, business, or international relations. Again, these trends aren't requirements to become a Senator, but having extensive knowledge of political issues can be considered necessary.

Perhaps the most difficult part of becoming a Senator is actually running for office and being elected. This takes an immense amount of resources, willpower, and dedication, not to mention expert public speaking abilities.

Most Senators are either democrats or republicans, with a very small number of independents. You will almost always need the backing of one of these parties to run a successful campaign and get elected to the Senate.

Each state only elects two senators to represent that state at the federal level. Senate seats are extremely important and highly competitive across party lines. Having a majority in the Senate gives a party an advantage when it comes to passing, and blocking, legislation and certain decisions and appointments.

Senators serve six-year terms, with a third of the Senate coming up for reelection every two years, so they need experience in running for public office and winning elections.

Besides representing and serving their constituents, a Senator also must serve as a liaison between their state and the country's legislative proceedings, serve on specialized committees and vote for or against the new legislation. This is another reason why many Senators first study law or practice as lawyers and other legal officials.