Well, there’s an intangible aspect. As Al Ewing put it in one of his interviews about CAP & MIGHTY, becoming Cap is like being elected to the highest office in the super hero land.

Every action that you take is read in a completely different way when you’re Captain America. There are things that Sam could say or do as the Falcon that would have a different context if he did them as Captain America.

There’s an expectation to Captain America.

But you’re asking what makes somebody “qualify” as Captain America, I’d imagine.

I think that Steve Rogers saying that they are carries a little bit of weight.

I think standing up for principles, and doing the right thing, and embodying the spirit and the founding principles of the nation also do.