Eleanor Finch
The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, also known as the Term Limits for the Presidency amendment, was ratified on February 27, 1951, and officially became operative in 1951. The amendment limits the number of terms a person can serve as President of the United States to two terms and outlines a series of stipulations regarding the eligibility of succession for unfinished presidential terms. The 22nd Amendment was created to prevent a president from serving beyond two terms and becoming too powerful, effectively turning the U.S. into an elective monarchy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date added to the Constitution | 1 March 1951 |
| Date ratified | 27 February 1951 |
| Date proposed by Congress | 21 March 1947 |
| Number of terms a person can be elected to the presidency | Twice |
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What You'll Learn
The 22nd Amendment was ratified on February 27, 1951
The 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as the "Twenty-second Amendment", was officially ratified on February 27, 1951. This amendment imposed term limits on the presidency, restricting individuals from being elected to the office of the President more than twice. The process of ratification, however, began several years earlier and involved a series of steps and debates.
The idea of presidential term limits had been discussed for many years, dating back to the early days of the nation's founding. The Framers of the Constitution had differing opinions on how long an individual should serve as president, with some even suggesting a lifetime appointment. Despite these differences, the Constitution initially included no term limits for the president.
The 22nd Amendment gained momentum in the mid-20th century, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented four terms in office. Roosevelt's multiple terms highlighted the need for term limits, and in 1947, two years after his death, the House of Representatives proposed Joint Resolution 27, which called for a limit of two four-year terms for future presidents. This proposal was approved and sent to the states for ratification.
The process of ratification faced some challenges and delays. Initially, the amendment did not have strong support among southern Democratic-controlled states. However, this began to change as President Truman, Roosevelt's successor, promoted civil rights programs, causing a split within the Democratic Party. On February 27, 1951, Minnesota became the 36th state to ratify the amendment, adding it to the Constitution.
The 22nd Amendment established a significant milestone in the history of the United States, ensuring that no individual could serve more than two terms as president. This amendment addressed concerns about the concentration of power and provided a framework for the peaceful transfer of power, contributing to the stability and democratic principles of the nation.
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It establishes term limits for US presidents
The 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution, which establishes term limits for presidents, was added and ratified in the mid-20th century. The process of adding this amendment to the Constitution began in 1947, when the proposal was introduced in Congress. It was approved by Congress and sent to the states for ratification later that year. The amendment became part of the Constitution on February 27, 1951, after being ratified by the requisite number of states.
The main purpose of the 22nd Amendment is to prevent any individual from serving more than two terms as the president of the United States. The amendment explicitly states that "no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice." This limitation ensures that no single individual can hold the office of president for too long and helps to promote a regular transfer of power.
Prior to the 22nd Amendment, there were no explicit term limits for the president. However, the tradition of a two-term limit had been established by George Washington, who served two terms and then declined to run for reelection, setting a precedent that was followed by subsequent presidents for over a century.
The push for a constitutional amendment to enforce term limits gained momentum after Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented four terms as president during the Great Depression and World War II. Roosevelt's lengthy tenure in office raised concerns about the potential for a president to remain in power indefinitely, and there was a growing sentiment that formal term limits were necessary to maintain the balance of power and prevent presidential overreach.
The 22nd Amendment not only establishes term limits for presidents but also addresses the issue of succession and disability. It clarifies the line of succession if the president dies, resigns, or is removed from office, and it includes provisions for filling a vacancy in the office of the vice president. Additionally, the amendment addresses situations where the president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office, providing a process for declaring the president unable to serve and transferring power to the vice president.
The enactment of the 22nd Amendment ensured that the office of the president would be subject to regular democratic turnover, preventing any individual from consolidating too much power and promoting a healthy rotation of leadership in the executive branch of the US government.
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The amendment was ratified by three-fourths of the states
The 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution, which limits the number of terms a president can serve, was officially ratified on February 27, 1951. This came after almost four years of deliberation, during which the amendment did not have support among southern Democratic-controlled states.
The 22nd Amendment was ratified by three-fourths of the states, as required by the Constitution. This means that 36 states had to approve the amendment for it to become law. Minnesota was the 36th state to do so in February 1951.
The process of ratifying the 22nd Amendment began in 1947 when the House of Representatives proposed Joint Resolution 27, calling for a limit of two four-year terms for all future presidents. The proposed amendment was then approved and sent to the states for ratification on March 21, 1947.
The 22nd Amendment was not universally accepted by the states. Two states, Massachusetts and Oklahoma, rejected the amendment, while five states—Arizona, Kentucky, Rhode Island, Washington, and West Virginia—took no action. Despite this, enough states ratified the amendment to meet the three-fourths requirement, and it became part of the Constitution.
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It was the result of a broader split within the Democratic Party
The 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution, which limits presidential terms to two four-year terms, was added in 1951. Initially, the amendment did not have support among southern Democratic-controlled states. However, President Truman's moves to promote civil rights programs led to a broader split within the Democratic Party.
The 1944 Republican presidential candidate, Thomas Dewey, had proposed a presidential term limits amendment, but Roosevelt defeated Dewey for Roosevelt's fourth term in office in November 1944. Roosevelt was elected president four times, and his multiple terms played a role in the push for the 22nd Amendment. In the 1946 elections, Republicans gained control of Congress, and they quickly proposed an amendment to limit presidential tenure to two terms. No Republican voted against the amendment, and the Democrats who voted for it were largely conservative southerners.
The 80th Congress saw a united front between Republicans and southern and western Democrats who desired to limit presidential tenure after Franklin Roosevelt's four terms. The House considered two versions of the amendment: one limited the president to a single six-year term, while the other limited the president to two four-year terms. The House version with a two-term limit passed with a vote of 285-121, thanks in part to the support of 37 Democrats from southern states.
The broader split within the Democratic Party was influenced by President Truman's civil rights agenda, which some southern Democrats opposed. The 22nd Amendment's addition to the Constitution was a result of this divide, with southern Democrats joining forces with Republicans to limit presidential tenure.
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The incumbent president when it was ratified was Harry S. Truman
The 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution, which limits presidential terms to two, was ratified on February 27, 1951. The incumbent president at the time was Harry S. Truman, who had ascended to the presidency in 1945 following the death of Franklin Roosevelt. Truman was initially exempt from the amendment, as it did not apply to sitting presidents. This full exemption allowed him to run again in 1952, although he ultimately chose not to seek his party's nomination.
The 22nd Amendment was the result of a long debate about presidential term limits, dating back to the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The amendment was first proposed in 1944 by Republican presidential candidate Thomas Dewey, who lost to Roosevelt in the 1944 election. Roosevelt died shortly after his inauguration in 1945, and Truman became president. In 1947, two years after Roosevelt's death, the House of Representatives proposed Joint Resolution 27, which called for a two-term limit for future presidents.
The proposed amendment was approved and sent to the states for ratification on March 21, 1947. However, it faced opposition from southern Democratic-controlled states, and it was not until 1951 that it was finally ratified. Truman's promotion of civil rights programs also contributed to a broader split within the Democratic Party, which may have influenced the ratification process.
The 22nd Amendment has since barred six twice-elected presidents from seeking a third term: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. The amendment specifically states that "no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice." This limitation applies even if the person has served as president for less than a full term, as in the case of Trump, who was elected to two non-consecutive terms.
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Frequently asked questions
The 22nd Amendment was added to the US Constitution on February 27, 1951.
The 22nd Amendment limits the number of terms a person can be elected President to two terms.
Harry S. Truman was President when the 22nd Amendment was added to the Constitution.
Yes, several attempts have been made to modify or outright repeal the 22nd Amendment.
