Omar Bennett
The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as Amendment XXII, was ratified on February 27, 1951, and established term limits for elected presidents. The amendment was a response to Franklin D. Roosevelt's unprecedented four terms as president and the subsequent ascension of Harry S. Truman to the presidency. Since the ratification of the amendment, all subsequent presidents have served no longer than two elected terms. The Twenty-second Amendment outlines that no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President for more than two years of another person's term shall be elected more than once.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amendment Number | Twenty-second Amendment (Amendment XXII) |
| Date of Ratification | February 27, 1951 |
| Number of Terms Permitted | Two terms |
| Length of Each Term | Four years |
| Eligibility for Unfinished Terms | 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. |
| Applicability | Does not apply to any person holding the office of President when the Article was proposed by Congress |
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What You'll Learn
The Twenty-second Amendment
The Amendment prohibits anyone from being elected to the office of President more than twice. It also states that 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 shall be elected to the office of President more than once. This means that if a vice president takes over the presidency due to the elected president's death, they can be elected to the office of President once, but only if they serve less than two years of their predecessor's term.
The question of term limits for elected officials has been a topic of debate since the Constitution's first ratification. Alexander Hamilton and James Madison envisioned a president who would be nominated by Congress and serve for life, while others favoured fixed terms. The Twenty-second Amendment's ban on electing presidents to more than two terms has been challenged several times by presidents and Congress members from various political affiliations.
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Presidential term limits debated since 1787
The debate over presidential term limits has been ongoing since the Constitutional Convention of 1787. At the convention, the Framers extensively debated the issue, considering both the length of a presidential term and the overall number of terms a president could serve.
Alexander Hamilton and James Madison supported lifetime tenure for presidents, while others, such as Virginia's George Mason, disagreed, arguing that this would create an ""elective monarchy". An early draft of the U.S. Constitution restricted the president to one seven-year term, but the Framers ultimately approved four-year terms with no limit on the number of terms.
The question of presidential term limits resurfaced in the 20th century after Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented four terms as president. In 1947, two years after Roosevelt's death, the House of Representatives proposed Joint Resolution 27, which called for a limit of two four-year terms for all future presidents. This proposal eventually became the Twenty-second Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified in 1951.
The Twenty-second Amendment prohibits anyone who has been elected president twice from being elected again. It also prohibits anyone who has served as president for more than two years of a term to which another person was elected from being elected more than once. The amendment has been successful in limiting presidents to two terms, with no president since its ratification serving more than two terms.
Despite this, the debate over presidential term limits has continued. There have been several attempts by presidents and Congress members from various political affiliations to modify or repeal the Twenty-second Amendment. Arguments in favour of repealing the amendment include the desire for consistent leadership in times of crisis and allowing non-consecutive terms for eligible presidents with longer life expectancies.
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Reaction to FDR's four terms
Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President of the United States four times: in 1932, 1936, 1940, and 1944. He is the first and only president to win more than two consecutive presidential elections.
Roosevelt's decision to run for a third term in 1940 broke a long-held precedent set by George Washington in 1796. Washington's decision to decline a third term was seen as a safeguard against the type of tyrannical power held by the British crown during the Colonial era. Roosevelt's unprecedented third term took place as the United States remained in the throes of the Great Depression, and World War II had just begun. Roosevelt was able to make a strong case for stability, and he won with a wide margin.
However, Roosevelt's decision to run for a third term was not without opposition. Some of his supporters within the Democratic Party left his campaign, and the Republicans campaigned heavily against him. There were also concerns about his health, which was largely kept secret from the public. Despite this, Roosevelt was re-elected in 1944, winning 53% of the vote and carrying 36 states.
The public reaction to Roosevelt's third term sparked discussions about presidential term limits. Republicans were at the forefront of the movement, with Thomas Dewey, Roosevelt's Republican opponent in 1944, stating that "four terms, or sixteen years, is the most dangerous threat to our freedom ever proposed". Many Democrats agreed with the eight-year precedent set by Washington.
Roosevelt's unexpected death in April 1945, just three months into his fourth term, shocked the nation. This led to greater scrutiny of presidential health disclosures in future elections. In 1947, a Republican-controlled Congress approved the 22nd Amendment, limiting presidents to two terms. The Amendment was ratified in 1951, ensuring that Roosevelt's achievement would remain unique.
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Approved in 1947, ratified in 1951
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 approved by Congress on March 21, 1947. It was then submitted to the state legislatures for ratification. This process was completed on February 27, 1951, when the requisite 36 of the 48 states had ratified the amendment, and its provisions came into force on that date.
The amendment was a reaction to Franklin D. Roosevelt's election to an unprecedented four terms as president. Roosevelt was elected president four times, from 1932 to 1944, and his decision to seek a third term dominated the election campaign. Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, only 82 days after his fourth inauguration, and was succeeded by Vice President Harry S. Truman.
In the midterm elections 18 months later, Republicans took control of the House and the Senate, and the issue of presidential tenure was given priority in the 80th Congress when it convened in January 1947. The House of Representatives proposed Joint Resolution 27, calling for a set limit of two terms, each containing four years, for all future presidents. After revisions by the Senate, the proposed amendment was approved and sent out to the states for ratification on March 21, 1947.
The Twenty-second Amendment prohibits anyone who has been elected president twice from being elected again. It also prohibits someone who fills an unexpired presidential term lasting more than two years from being elected president more than once. The amendment has been in force since its ratification in 1951, and all subsequent presidents have served for no longer than two elected terms.
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Several attempts to modify/repeal
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 on February 27, 1951. This amendment was a reaction to Franklin D. Roosevelt's election to an unprecedented four terms as president.
Since the ratification, several attempts have been made to modify or repeal the Twenty-second Amendment. These attempts have come from presidents and Congress members of various political affiliations. One argument in favour of repealing the amendment is having consistent leadership in response to a crisis. Another is allowing non-consecutive terms for presidents, which would enable them to run for office again after a period out of power.
The debate surrounding presidential term limits has a long history in American politics. During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates extensively considered the issue, with some, including Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, supporting lifetime tenure for presidents. This proposal was criticised as tantamount to creating an "elective monarchy".
In the early to mid-19th century, various amendments aimed at changing the informal two-term precedent to constitutional law were proposed in Congress but did not pass. Thomas E. Dewey, Roosevelt's opponent in the 1944 election, supported a two-term limit, arguing that four terms was "the most dangerous threat to our freedom ever proposed". Roosevelt, however, went on to win a fourth term.
Following Roosevelt's death in 1945, Republicans took control of the House and the Senate in the midterm elections 18 months later. They prioritised the issue of presidential tenure and campaigned for a constitutional amendment to limit how long a person could serve as president.
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Frequently asked questions
The Twenty-second Amendment to the Constitution, which limits the number of times a person can be elected to the office of President of the United States to two terms, was ratified on February 27, 1951.
The Twenty-second Amendment was a reaction to Franklin D. Roosevelt's election to an unprecedented four terms as president.
Yes, several attempts have been made by presidents and Congress members of many different political affiliations to either modify or outright repeal the Twenty-second Amendment.
