Senate Qualifications

[Erok-El]

To be elected to the U. S. Senate, you have to at least thirty (30) years old. I know for sure that Lex is younger than thirty.

TPTB should have stuck with the original plot line about Jack Jennings and Lex contending for mayor.

I mean come on!!!

[Poetic Chaos]

Yeah, mayor would be understandable. But JK the farmer running for senate and standing any kind of chance against a Luthor? A scoach farfetched.

[MidgardDragon]

There's also no alien from the Planet Krypton living on Earth in real life. They took some liberties for the story. Perhaps they have changed that law in the Smallville world and Senators simply have to be over 18?

[Erok-El]

Originally posted by MidgardDragon
There's also no alien from the Planet Krypton living on Earth in real life. They took some liberties for the story. Perhaps they have changed that law in the Smallville world and Senators simply have to be over 18?

I know, it was just bothersome.

[Summers]

Man, they did an amendment of the Constitution :eek: :lol:.

[Poetic Chaos]

"There's also no alien from the Planet Krypton living on Earth in real life."

What a brilliant point. I retract my previous complaint. Who needs any kind of realism when the show's fiction anyway?

[DGreen]

its not that they don't need any realism, it's just that they stretched this one thing to fit the plot. how old is lex anyway? 25 ish. i think thats a good age to be allowed to run for senator anyway, so i say go lex. also, this will finally give jk an actually storyline, which he hasn't had since s3

[Erok-El]

Originally posted by DGreen
also, this will finally give jk an actually storyline, which he hasn't had since s3


Good point.

[Poetic Chaos]

I don't mean Lex running, I mean JK running. He's a former small town football star turned farmer. He wouldn't stand any kind of chance for Senate against Lex. Mayor of a Smallville I can see. State senate is ridiculous. Plus it takes all kinds of money to run for an office like that. Advertising, travel, staff, etc. They have bill problems as it is plus they're probably paying for Clark's college. Unless somehow you can get a football scholarship and not play.

[Mosc]

Lex is running for Kansas State Senator, not the U.S. Senate. This could still be far-fetched as I have no clue what the Kasas state constitution says about their state senate, but it could have different rules than the U.S. Senate.

[mortal118]

but... the State Senator of Kansas would be on the U.S. Senate. There's 100 Senators (2 for each State). So yeah, they are running for a position that Lex would not be old enough for, and Johnathan wouldn't be famous/rich enough for. I agree: should've been for mayor of S.V.
But hey, it's another one of the show's liberties to creat/change.
Take care, God bless

[Absolut]

Originally posted by Erok-El
To be elected to the U. S. Senate, you have to at least thirty (30) years old. I know for sure that Lex is younger than thirty.

Nevermind, I went and looked it up. Lex was 9 years old when the meteor shower hit Smallville in 1989. That would put him at 25 years old today (assuming he had his birthday already this year and all that jazz.)

However, for a state senator (not US senator)in the state of Kansas, the minimum age is only 18. Did they say US or State senator in the show?

source http://legis.state.sd.us/IssueMemos/IssueMemos/im94-31.pdf

[Cookie 28]

Well in Smallville Kansas the kids were all driving at 15, so I guess you can be a senator at 25 or so. :)

[Melisande]

State senate is different from U.S. senate. Kansas has 40 senators in their current senate. You only have to be 25 to run. And it is not uncommon for state senators to have far less political experience and education than U.S. senators.

[kaatiedid]

Yeah, i took it to be the Kansas state senate and judging from the fools in my area, you don't have to have that much political background to be elected. In factk, usually stuff like this is where people begin.

~Katie~

[Erok-El]

I guess I should have listened closer.

[Eh,Man?You-El?]

Originally posted by Melisande
And it is not uncommon for state senators to have far less political experience and education than U.S. senators.

... and COOLER CARS!

[DGreen]

as for jonothan not having the money to run, didn't jack say that jonathan had his support? this could mean financial as well as moral support, which would explain how he'll pay to campaign. also, i don't think either of them will win. we'll probably end up seeing some third candidate take the election, cause lets face it, if either of them wins, they wouldn't really have a place on the show anymore.

[JLA]

I'm fairly sure they said state senate.

A common farmer winning is not far fetched -- here in Washington state a housewife & mom with no qualifications was elected to the US Senate.

[thmallville]

How can Jonathan be the right guy for the job when he's a farmer??? I don't get it. :confused:

[Poetic Chaos]

What're you guys talking about a state senate? There's only the US senate and the House of Representitives. Together they make Congress. 2 senators a state. Kansas has 4 reps from what I've found.

[Reign]

Okay... some people need a little bit of clarification. I'll do this since I work for a state senator. How's that? If you argue, then I'll have to say you're wrong.

There are basically 3 levels of government:
1.City/Town, otherwise known as local government
2. State government
3. Federal government

Local Government may include any of the following, however some cities/towns don't have some offices: mayor, city council, selectmen

State Government is a little more complicated. These include, but not limited to:Governor, State Senate, State Representatives, Judges, Sheriffs, District Attorneys

Federal Government most people are familiar with: President, Congress, etc

Think of state government as a mini country. The Governor is the highest power, much like the Pres, and there is a "Congress," -- i.e. the State House. If you don't believe me, Google "State House + [your state]." You'll see what I mean.

Each state has their own constitution. I happen to live in Massachusetts, and the MA constitution is basically what the U.S. constitution was modeled after. We have a bicameral legislature divided between the senate and house of representatives. We debate state legislation and issues on the state budget. The only difference is that we're much smaller.

Each state breaks it up a little differently. In MA, there are 40 state senators and 160 state representatives. The youngest state senator that MA has ever had was 29 years old. To win, you basically just have to have a strong political machine and the financial prowess to put together a powerful political chest (of money).

Lex Luthor has the political connections and the money to run. Jonathan Kent is not without his own merits. It was mentioned that he was part of the Farmer's Union and it was mentioned that he had a lot of influence. Unions are especially powerful political forces.

Keep in mind that Lex or Jonathan would only have to win the district. I would imagine that the producers of the show will say that Smallville and a part of Metropolis are in the same district (it'll be hard to believe that Metropolis is in one big district, since Boston is divided into 7 senate districts).

Looks like school doesn't teach government very well.

[markbot]

yeah.......needs to be 30. lex is mid 20s on the show.

[Superboy2]

I thought the legal driving age in Smallville was 14, because Clark is not 15, he is 14. In S2, Calling, it's his 16 b-day. And tha was after the school year ended.

[Erok-El]

Thank you, Reign, for being well informed about this topic.

[Summers]

Originally posted by Erok-El
I guess I should have listened closer.

Me too. I thought they said U.S. Senator instead of state. I feel lame now lol.

[Mosc]

Originally posted by mortal118
but... the State Senator of Kansas would be on the U.S. Senate. There's 100 Senators (2 for each State). So yeah, they are running for a position that Lex would not be old enough for
See Reign's civics lesson above.

[MidgardDragon]

Originally posted by Superboy2
I thought the legal driving age in Smallville was 14, because Clark is not 15, he is 14. In S2, Calling, it's his 16 b-day. And tha was after the school year ended.

If he was driving when he was 14 then he probably have a hardship license that they sometimes give to underage people who need it for whatever reasons. It's possible the driving age in SV is 14, but then they would have *all* been driving at 14.


Originally posted by Poetic Chaos
"There's also no alien from the Planet Krypton living on Earth in real life."

What a brilliant point. I retract my previous complaint. Who needs any kind of realism when the show's fiction anyway?

I realize you were probably being sarcastic, but I actually agree with that sentence in it's non-sarcastic incarnation.

Smallville *is* fiction. It happens to borrow a lot from reality and it is the writer's *choice* to place it in a semi-real setting. However, as a *fiction* show, this is totally optional. And they can reinvent bits of reality to fit the show as they see fit because it is fiction. Now, it's obvious that most viewers would want something they can empathize with, so setting it in basic reality makes sense. However, little things like laws on who can run for certain offices and the like are free for the changing, because despite nitpicking, they aren't important for the viewers enjoyment of the show.

To conclude, this is all a moot point as we now know that Lex is running for State Senate, which doesn't require you to be 30 to run like US Senate does.

But my point still stands, this is a fiction show and whatever bits they choose to reinvent are fair game, it is their choice to stick as closely to reality as the wish while still changing some things to fit in with their story.

[markbot]

Originally posted by Reign
Okay... some people need a little bit of clarification. I'll do this since I work for a state senator. How's that? If you argue, then I'll have to say you're wrong.

There are basically 3 levels of government:
1.City/Town, otherwise known as local government
2. State government
3. Federal government

Looks like school doesn't teach government very well.



i guess u r right....but they should call state senators something else.

[thehenry89]

i thought you only had to be twenty-five to be a us senator president is 35 i think i may be wrong somebody check me.

[Reign]

Originally posted by markbot
i guess u r right....but they should call state senators something else.

They do. State Senators are called State Senators. U.S. Senators are called U.S. Senators.

[thmallville]

huh???

[Supersonic]

they're the luthors... x'D They're so powerful... He could run for senator at 12 if he wanted to!

[InexorableWanderer]

They're definitely running for State Senate, but here's this anyway:


Originally posted by thehenry89
i thought you only had to be twenty-five to be a us senator president is 35 i think i may be wrong somebody check me.

"[Article. I. Section. 2.] Clause 2: 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.

. . .

[Article. I. Section. 3.] Clause 3: No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

. . .

[Article. II. Section. 1.] Clause 5: No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States."

[shadow_2099]

Let's talk people.

One: Season One opened with Lex in charge of the Plant and thus it is assumed he finished at least a BS in college. That makes him at LEAST 22.

Two: We are in season 5, which means how many years have passed? (Its a trick question).

Three: At the minimum, Lex is 27.

Now all taht said, add on the fact that I believe that Lex actally enterened Smallville when he was about 24, that would make him 29. Depending on the time of the elections vs his birthday vs his swearing in date if elected, I think its legit.

Oh my, did I just burst another man;s hopes in finding a plothole...I think sooooo....

Shadow

PS: No where did they say it was state senate or not. Dont inject things that you cant prove as facts.

Shadow

[Erok-El]

Originally posted by shadow_2099
Oh my, did I just burst another man;s hopes in finding a plothole...I think sooooo....
Shadow

I wasn't looking for a plothole, just clarification.

[MidgardDragon]

Originally posted by shadow_2099
Let's talk people.

One: Season One opened with Lex in charge of the Plant and thus it is assumed he finished at least a BS in college. That makes him at LEAST 22.

Two: We are in season 5, which means how many years have passed? (Its a trick question).

Three: At the minimum, Lex is 27.

Now all taht said, add on the fact that I believe that Lex actally enterened Smallville when he was about 24, that would make him 29. Depending on the time of the elections vs his birthday vs his swearing in date if elected, I think its legit.

Oh my, did I just burst another man;s hopes in finding a plothole...I think sooooo....

Shadow

PS: No where did they say it was state senate or not. Dont inject things that you cant prove as facts.

Shadow

They *did* say STATE Senator. I can fast forward to the very scene, I believe it was one where Clark and Lex were talking. That can be proven by WATCHING the episode.

[Erok-El]

Thank you MidgardDragon

[Reign]

regarding the age thing that was posted just above... Lex was 9 at the time of the meteor shower... it's now 16 years later... Lex is 25.

[President_Luthor]

You know what's going to happen ..... JK will run a campaign based on "integrity" and the campaign will expose how far from a so-called pillar of virtue he actually is. How many side-deals has the man cut to either keep Clark's secret or protect the family (as he sees it.)? The Rosses were his friends, and he helped to screw them over so Lionel can smooth over Clark's questionable adoption. I can't, for the life of me, understand how that can be simply brushed under the rug. Lionel was a key player in the whole ripoff.

JK will put up a fight, I'm sure, but if he uses integrity as a platform plank, Lex, Lionel or someone else (Pete Ross? :D) will smack him over the head with it so fast, JK will think he's still back in Hazzard County again with Luke, Boss Hogg and the rest.

Good ol' boy? I don't think so.

:rotfl:

[sheltiemom]

There is no expressed minimum age requirement to become part of Kansas
legislature. You just have to have enough experience for the voters to have
confidence in you. Please feel free to contact us with any further
questions.
Thank you,
Kim Harp, Legislative Reference
State Library of Kansas
300 SW 10th Ave Rm 343-N
Topeka, KS 66612

This is from the Library at Kansas Gov't office. The qyuestion of age had me bothered too. Hope this helps.
I think it's great that a tv show generates intellegent questions amoung it's fans.

There is no expressed minimum age requirement to become part of Kansas
legislature. You just have to have enough experience for the voters to have
confidence in you. Please feel free to contact us with any further
questions.
Thank you,
Kim Harp, Legislative Reference
State Library of Kansas
300 SW 10th Ave Rm 343-N
Topeka, KS 66612

This is from the Library at Kansas Gov't office. The question of age had me bothered too. Hope this helps.
I think it's great that a tv show generates intelligent questions amoung it's fans.