People vote for who they want to be the president after elections. They choose from candidates that are available. Since these people are trying for the most important job in a country, it is necessary to see if they are good. A good vetting process also assesses any ties or relationships that the candidate has that may disqualify them.
Overlooking the vetting process can be detrimental for the country. For instance, Columbia almost elected the famous drug dealer Pablo Escobar after he had decided to enter into politics. Escobar won the hearts of Colombians by giving back to the community and his political career got a boost from the people but was stopped as his shady dealings in drug trafficking and arrest records were unraveled.
The basic requirements for one to run for the office of US president are:
- To have been born in the US.
- To be at least 35 years old when you take office.
- To have lived in America for at least 14 years.
We can all agree that this is a low bar for the most influential job in the world.
What is vetting?
Vetting entails “investigating (someone) thoroughly, especially in order to ensure that they are suitable for a job requiring secrecy, loyalty, or trustworthiness” [Source]. Through the vetting process, people who have correct credentials are only considered for certain positions.
Normally, the vetting process is done by law enforcement organizations such as the police, military, or security agents. Government departments are usually entrusted with the vetting process because they have all the personal documents of citizens living in a country.
Presidential candidates also need vetting as a way to investigate their conduct against the demands of the presidential office. Other forms of vetting also extend to the demands of the constitution.
How are presidential candidates vetted?
The first form of vetting takes place within a political party whereby members of a party examine the perfect candidate to represent them. Positions in a political party are given to deserving people who are deemed fit, and the internal elections are also used to select presidential candidates.
In many nations, electorate organizations also carry out vetting processes for the candidates who wished to be added to the ballot. Certain requirements are rolled out by the electorate and they range from age, citizenship, and country of residence. Satisfying the electorate’s demands qualifies a person to become a presidential candidate and makes him or her an eligible candidate to be placed on the ballot.
In its vetting process, the American electorate needs a presidential candidate “to be a natural-born American citizen, over 35 years of age at the time of taking office, having been a resident of the USA for a minimum of 14 years” [Source].
The vetting process varies as per election and it also depends on the administration of a nation and relies on the position a person is seeking for. But the whole vetting procedure does go through three components which include the security clearance process, the ethics clearance process and public records view and vetting interviews [Source].
For presidential candidates, the security clearance process involves checking criminal and court records to see if a person was not charged with anything in the past. Court records are considered to check if there are no pending cases, and usually, the police take fingerprints for clearance.
Law enforcements play a pivotal role in ascertaining if presidential candidates are in-line with the security clearance demands. Participation in a state’s general elections needs a person with a clean record because individuals with criminal records are usually not allowed to join the government let alone lead a country.
The public record view and vetting interviews also examine government records in administration offices to see one’s job conduct and track work record. It also stretches to records contained in archives of security agent organizations and secret services. The ethics clearance process touches on whether the candidates had considered risks involved in the position he or she wishes for, exhibits qualities necessary for the job, and has the required skills for that post.
Vetting is the gateway into a presidential candidate’s life and informs relevant authorities about that individual’s life, including all important aspects that are necessary when one wishes to be a president.
Security clearance
A security clearance is a demand from the electorates and various state departments. It is required to be satisfied before a presidential candidate can become an actual contender on the ballot. Security clearance checks whether a presidential hopeful has been charged with any crimes or not, as well as that person’s criminal record in the past.
Ethics clearance
An individual who aspires to be a president needs ethics check to ensure they have the qualifications and skills needed for the position. It also ensures that one is not applying for the position of the presidency due to personal reasons.
Public record review
This process determines a presidential candidate’s track record in his or her previous jobs, whether he or she has the experience required for the position, and ascertains if they have exhibited any qualities that are necessary for a president. A public record check also ensures that the candidate is not being considered due to personal reasons or because of some other conflicts of interest.
Financial Disclosure
Financial Disclosure is a legal obligation where one discloses their assets and financial information for government agencies to review. The purpose of the disclosure is to prevent conflicts of interests and personal gains through monetary or material means. Financial Disclosure ensures that no laws are being broken when managing finances, and makes sure that all transactions done by a candidate are legitimate.
Organizational Affiliations
Organizational Affiliations are other organizations to which a candidate belongs, and may include religious bodies or non-governmental organizations. A presidential candidate needs an additional check if he or she is involved with any controversial groups.
Health and Medical Record
Health and Medical Records ensure that a candidate is fit to carry out the duties of president. It also determines if they have any diseases which may prevent them from fulfilling such duties or have undergone some form of surgery. If so, it checks whether the candidate had overcome their illnesses and is capable of executing their presidential duties.
Background Checks and Interviews
Background Checks and Interviews probe a candidate’s life history. These checks include one’s past, professional, personal, and educational background. They also look at the candidate’s family background to determine if there are any risks or threats that could be posed by a candidate who is related to someone dangerous.
The process of vetting a potential president is long, thorough, and exhausting. It begins with the financial disclosure of all possible candidate’s assets to ensure no government official or citizen has any conflict of interests in their running for office. This process ensures that the person will not be influenced by personal gains when making senior state decisions.
