Malcolm Rivera
The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as Amendment XXII, limits the number of times a person can be elected to the office of President to two terms. The amendment was ratified in 1951 as a reaction to Franklin D. Roosevelt's election to an unprecedented four terms as president, and it outlines additional eligibility conditions for presidents who succeed to the unexpired terms of their predecessors. Since its ratification, there have been several attempts to modify or repeal the amendment, including a recent proposal by Congressman Ogles to allow President Trump to serve a third term. The Twenty-second Amendment has sparked ongoing debates about the nature of the presidency and the role of term limits.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amendment Number | Twenty-second Amendment (Amendment XXII) |
| Date Proposed | January 1947 |
| Date Ratified | February 27, 1951 |
| Number of Terms Permitted | Two |
| Conditions | No person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once. |
| Exceptions | This Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term. |
| Ratification Requirements | Ratification by legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress |
| Reaction | The Amendment has experienced a split reception, with several attempts made to modify or repeal it |
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What You'll Learn
- The Twenty-Second Amendment limits the number of terms a person can be elected to the office of President of the United States to two
- The Amendment was a reaction to Franklin D. Roosevelt's election to an unprecedented four terms as president
- Presidential term limits have long been debated in American politics, with some founding fathers supporting lifetime tenure
- The Amendment was ratified in 1951 after almost four years of deliberation
- Several attempts have been made to modify or repeal the Twenty-Second Amendment
The Twenty-Second Amendment limits the number of terms a person can be elected to the office of President of the United States to two
The Twenty-Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as Amendment XXII, limits the number of terms a person can be elected to the office of President of the United States to two. This amendment was proposed in response to Franklin D. Roosevelt's unprecedented four terms as president, serving from 1932 to 1944. Roosevelt's decision to seek a third and fourth term dominated the election campaigns of his time, and his open-ended tenure was a significant issue for his opponents. Roosevelt's health was also a concern, and he died just 82 days after his fourth inauguration.
The Twenty-Second Amendment was approved by Congress on March 21, 1947, and submitted to the states for ratification. The amendment was ratified on February 27, 1951, when 36 of the 48 states had approved it. The amendment prohibits anyone who has been elected president twice from being elected again. It also includes stipulations regarding the eligibility of succession for unfinished presidential terms. For example, someone who fills an unexpired presidential term lasting more than two years is prohibited from being elected president more than once.
The idea of term limits for elected officials has been a topic of debate since the early days of the US Constitution. While some of the Framers, like Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, envisioned a president serving a lifetime tenure, others, like Virginia's George Mason, opposed this idea as it would be akin to an "elective monarchy". Despite these differing views, a two-term tradition was established, with three of the next four presidents after Jefferson adhering to this principle.
Since the ratification of the Twenty-Second Amendment, there have been several attempts to modify or repeal it, with arguments ranging from allowing non-consecutive terms to having consistent leadership during a crisis. However, the amendment continues to stand, and all subsequent presidents have served no longer than two elected terms.
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The Amendment was a reaction to Franklin D. Roosevelt's election to an unprecedented four terms as president
The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as Amendment XXII, was a direct response to Franklin D. Roosevelt's unprecedented four terms as president. The amendment, which was ratified in 1951, established a two-term limit for presidents, stating that "no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice".
The issue of presidential term limits had been debated for many years, with the Framers of the Constitution differing on their opinions. Alexander Hamilton and James Madison supported lifetime tenure for presidents, while others, like Virginia's George Mason, opposed this idea, arguing that it would lead to an elective monarchy. Despite these differing views, a strong two-term tradition emerged, with three out of the four presidents after Jefferson adhering to this principle.
Franklin D. Roosevelt's decision to seek a third term in 1940 was a significant turning point. His victory over Republican Wendell Willkie made him the only president to exceed eight years in office. Roosevelt's fourth term, however, was marked by his declining health, and he passed away just 82 days after his fourth inauguration. This unprecedented situation, along with concerns about the president's age and the Republicans' control of the House and Senate, brought the issue of term limits to the forefront once again.
In 1947, two years after Roosevelt's death, the House of Representatives proposed Joint Resolution 27, which called for a definitive limit of two four-year terms for all future presidents. This proposal was approved and sent to the states for ratification, officially becoming the Twenty-second Amendment in 1951. The amendment has since been fully adhered to, with all subsequent presidents serving no more than two elected terms.
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Presidential term limits have long been debated in American politics, with some founding fathers supporting lifetime tenure
Presidential term limits have been a topic of debate in American politics since the founding of the nation. The question of whether to impose term limits on the presidency was considered extensively by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, including several of the Founding Fathers.
Among the Founding Fathers, there were differing views on the matter. Some, such as Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, supported the idea of lifetime tenure for presidents. They believed that a president should be able to serve for an unlimited number of terms. However, this proposal was not universally accepted, and it faced strong opposition from others, including Virginia's George Mason, who denounced it as tantamount to an elective monarchy.
The early draft of the U.S. Constitution reflected the debate, with one version proposing a single seven-year term for the president. Ultimately, the Framers of the Constitution approved four-year terms without any restrictions on the number of terms a person could serve. This decision set the stage for future discussions and the eventual adoption of term limits.
The two-term tradition was established by George Washington, the first president of the United States, when he voluntarily stepped down after serving two terms. This precedent was largely followed by subsequent presidents, including Thomas Jefferson, who became the third president. However, there were exceptions, and the lack of a formal restriction led to concerns about unlimited terms.
The issue of presidential term limits gained renewed attention due to Franklin D. Roosevelt's unprecedented four terms as president. Roosevelt's lengthy tenure, especially during the tumultuous times of the Great Depression and World War II, raised questions about the potential for executive overreach. His decision to seek a third and fourth term sparked debates about the appropriate length of service and the need for constitutional limits.
In response to Roosevelt's extended tenure, Congress proposed Joint Resolution 27 in 1947, which called for a limit of two terms for future presidents. This proposal eventually led to the Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1951, which officially established the two-term limit for the presidency. The amendment prohibits anyone who has been elected president twice from seeking reelection and sets additional eligibility conditions for presidents who succeed to the unexpired terms of their predecessors.
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The Amendment was ratified in 1951 after almost four years of deliberation
The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution, which limits the number of times a person can be elected to the office of President to two terms, was ratified in 1951. The process of ratification was completed on February 27, 1951, when 36 out of 48 states had ratified the amendment. This amendment was a response to Franklin D. Roosevelt's unprecedented four terms as president and the subsequent concern over the length of a president's tenure in office.
The idea of limiting presidential terms has a long history in American politics. During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates extensively discussed the issue, with some, including Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, supporting lifetime tenure for presidents, while others favoured fixed terms. The concern was raised that a lifetime tenure would effectively create an "elective monarchy". Despite these early debates, it wasn't until the 19th century that formal attempts were made to change the informal two-term precedent to constitutional law, with various amendments proposed in Congress, but none passed.
Following Roosevelt's election to a third term in 1940 and a fourth term in 1944, the issue of presidential term limits gained new momentum. Roosevelt's decision to seek a third term dominated the election campaign, with his opponent, Republican Wendell Willkie, running on a platform opposing open-ended presidential tenure. Roosevelt's fourth term was also marked by his declining health, and he died just 82 days after his fourth inauguration. This further fuelled the debate around presidential tenure and the need for constitutional limits.
In 1947, two years after Roosevelt's death, the House of Representatives proposed Joint Resolution 27, calling for a definitive limit of two four-year terms for all future presidents. After revisions by the Senate, the proposed amendment, now known as the Twenty-second Amendment, was approved by Congress on March 21, 1947, and submitted to the states for ratification. The ratification process took almost four years, as it required the approval of three-fourths of the states (36 out of 48 at the time) to become law. The amendment officially came into force on February 27, 1951, setting a clear limit on the number of terms a president could serve and establishing additional eligibility conditions for presidents who succeed to the unexpired terms of their predecessors.
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Several attempts have been made to modify or repeal the Twenty-Second Amendment
The Twenty-Second Amendment, which limits the US presidency to two terms, was a reaction to Franklin D. Roosevelt's election to an unprecedented four terms as president. However, the debate over presidential term limits has a long history in American politics, dating back to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. While some of the Founding Fathers, including Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, supported lifetime tenure for presidents, others favoured fixed terms.
Since the ratification of the Twenty-Second Amendment in 1951, several attempts have been made by presidents and Congress members from various political affiliations to modify or repeal it. For instance, in 1956, just five years after the amendment's ratification, the first efforts to repeal it were initiated in Congress. Over the next 50 years, 54 joint resolutions seeking to repeal the two-term presidential election limit were introduced.
In 1944, Roosevelt's opponent, Republican Thomas E. Dewey, announced his support for a constitutional amendment to limit presidents to two terms, stating that "four terms, or sixteen years [...] is the most dangerous threat to our freedom ever proposed." Roosevelt was elected to a fourth term, but died just 82 days after his inauguration.
In 1989, Ronald Reagan stated that he believed the amendment infringed on people's democratic rights and that he would push for its repeal. Similarly, in 2000, Bill Clinton suggested that the amendment should be altered to allow for non-consecutive terms.
More recently, between 1997 and 2013, Representative José E. Serrano introduced nine resolutions to repeal the amendment, all of which were unsuccessful. In January 2025, Representative Andy Ogles introduced a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to allow a president to serve a third term if their first two terms were non-consecutive. This resolution was designed to allow incumbent president Donald Trump to serve a third term.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution limits the number of times a person can be elected to the office of President to twice.
The Twenty-second Amendment was ratified on February 27, 1951, after almost four years of deliberation.
The Twenty-second Amendment prohibits anyone who has been elected president twice from being elected to office again. It also states that someone who fills an unexpired presidential term lasting more than two years is prohibited from being elected president more than once.
The Twenty-second Amendment was created in response to Franklin D. Roosevelt's election to an unprecedented four terms as president. Roosevelt's decision to seek a third term dominated the election campaign, with Republicans running against the idea of open-ended presidential tenure.
There have been several attempts to modify or repeal the Twenty-second Amendment by presidents and Congress members of various political affiliations. Arguments in favor of repealing the amendment include allowing for consistent leadership in times of crisis and enabling non-consecutive terms.
