Political Crossfire Forums

[AboveSecret]

I appologise if Im in the wrong forums but I cant seem to get any answers from the politicians in my area.


I know what the constitution and the state requirements are but I dont see anything saying that a convicted criminal can't run. Well sort of LOL
The requirements state basically you have to be a US citizen and a certain age and to be able to legally vote. Well some people who have been convicted of felonies can vote and get chosen for a jury. Can they still legally run. President Bush has A DUI conviction and Vice President Dick Cheney has 2 DUI convictions and some congressman have convictions etc.

For instance:

A 35 year old, born in the United States, Lived in the area 20 years, Legally able to vote, can serve on jury, High School Graduate, Some college but has 2 convictions from 1991. Grandtheft Auto and Breaking and entering, both non violent crimes. Can they run for US Senator? Granted no one will proably vote for them but can anything legally stop them from running?

[LostSoul3412]

No, but no one would support them because it would be a waste of money because no one is going to vote for a criminal.

[AboveSecret]

Thx for the reply lost soul. I agree with you completely. This has been a discussion between me and my friends but no one could get an outside opinion.

[psholtz]

LostSoul3412 wrote: No, but no one would support them because it would be a waste of money because no one is going to vote for a criminal.
If no one ever votes for criminals, then where did your current government come from? :lol:

[perdidochas]

AboveSecret wrote: I appologise if Im in the wrong forums but I cant seem to get any answers from the politicians in my area.


I know what the constitution and the state requirements are but I dont see anything saying that a convicted criminal can't run. Well sort of LOL
The requirements state basically you have to be a US citizen and a certain age and to be able to legally vote. Well some people who have been convicted of felonies can vote and get chosen for a jury. Can they still legally run. President Bush has A DUI conviction and Vice President Dick Cheney has 2 DUI convictions and some congressman have convictions etc.

Well, in GW Bush's case, at the time (1976) in Maine, DUI was a misdemeanor charge. Cheney's two were in the early 1960s, and were also misdemeanor charges. We sometimes forget that DUI wasn't considered nearly as seriously before MADD as it is today.

That said, the Constitution says the following about the qualifications for representative:

Quote: No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen.





AboveSecret wrote: For instance:

A 35 year old, born in the United States, Lived in the area 20 years, Legally able to vote, can serve on jury, High School Graduate, Some college but has 2 convictions from 1991. Grandtheft Auto and Breaking and entering, both non violent crimes. Can they run for US Senator? Granted no one will proably vote for them but can anything legally stop them from running?

I don't think they can be stopped, unless states have other requirements than the Constitution. Again, not likely, but possible.

[LostSoul3412]

psholtz wrote: If no one ever votes for criminals, then where did your current government come from? :lol:

Very good campaigning. :lol: