Eleanor Finch
The Twenty-Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as Amendment XXII, establishes term limits for the President of the United States. It was ratified in 1951 and limits individuals to being elected to the presidency no more than twice. The amendment was a response to Franklin D. Roosevelt's unprecedented four terms as president, which sparked concerns about a president serving unlimited terms and accumulating too much power. Prior to Roosevelt, there was an unofficial two-term tradition set by early presidents such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. The Twenty-Second Amendment aimed to address these concerns and prevent the accumulation of excessive power by limiting presidents to two terms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Amendment | Twenty-second Amendment (Amendment XXII) |
| Date of Ratification | 27 February 1951 |
| Number of Terms Permitted | Two |
| Number of States Required for Ratification | 36 of 48 |
| Number of Years for Ratification | 4 |
| Previous Number of Terms Served by Franklin D. Roosevelt | Four |
| Year of Congressional Approval | 21 March 1947 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Twenty-Second Amendment
The amendment was a reaction to Franklin D. Roosevelt being elected to an unprecedented four terms as president. Roosevelt was elected in 1932 in response to the Great Depression. After serving two full terms, he ran again and was elected for a third term in 1940 and a fourth term in 1944. This gave rise to concerns about a president serving unlimited terms.
The question of having term limits on elected officials dates back to the first debates surrounding the Constitution's ratification. When the concept of a president was created, there were differing views on how long they should serve. Alexander Hamilton and James Madison envisioned a president who would be nominated by Congress and serve for life. This raised concerns about the United States becoming an "elective monarchy," but other proposals for fixed terms were also considered.
The Freedom of the Press: A Constitutional Guarantee
You may want to see also
Presidential term limits
The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution, which was ratified on February 27, 1951, established presidential term limits. This amendment limits the number of times a person can be elected to the office of President of the United States to two terms. It also sets additional eligibility conditions for presidents who succeed to the unexpired terms of their predecessors.
The question of having term limits for elected officials dates back to the first debates surrounding the Constitution's ratification. When the concept of the presidency was created, there were differing opinions on how long a president should serve. Alexander Hamilton and James Madison envisioned a president who would be nominated by Congress and serve for life, while others favoured fixed terms. The idea of a president serving for life was denounced as it would be akin to an "elective monarchy".
For the first 150 years of the United States, there were no official term limits for the presidency. However, an unofficial tradition of presidents serving no more than two terms was established when George Washington, the first president, voluntarily stepped down after two terms. Three of the next four presidents after Thomas Jefferson—Madison, James Monroe, and Andrew Jackson—also adhered to this two-term principle.
In the 1940 and 1944 presidential elections, Franklin D. Roosevelt became the only president to be elected for a third and fourth term, giving rise to concerns about a president serving unlimited terms. This unprecedented move broke the two-term precedent and led to the proposal and eventual ratification of the Twenty-second Amendment, which officially established the two-term limit for presidents.
Arizona's Constitution: Amendments and Their Impact
You may want to see also
The two-term tradition
The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1951, limits the number of times a person can be elected to the office of President to twice. This amendment was a reaction to Franklin D. Roosevelt's election to an unprecedented four terms as president. Roosevelt's violation of the two-term tradition prompted Congress and the states to turn the tradition into a formal matter of constitutional law.
James Madison, the fourth president, also adhered to the two-term principle. Three of the next four presidents after Jefferson—Madison, James Monroe, and Andrew Jackson—served two terms and respected the two-term tradition. Martin Van Buren was the only president between Jackson and Abraham Lincoln to be nominated for a second term, but he lost the 1840 election.
The Twenty-second Amendment was passed by Congress on March 21, 1947, and ratified on February 27, 1951, when the requisite 36 of the 48 states had ratified it. The amendment prohibits anyone who has been elected president twice from being elected to office again. It also prohibits someone who fills an unexpired presidential term lasting more than two years from being elected president more than once.
The Grand Jury Process: Constitutional Amendment Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Ratification by states
The 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution, which came into force on 27 February 1951, established term limits for the US president. The amendment was ratified by the states over a period of almost four years, with Minnesota's ratification on 27 February 1951 completing the process.
The 22nd Amendment states 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, 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.
However, the amendment also includes a clause that allows presidents who were in office either when the amendment was proposed or when it came into force to serve out their terms.
The 22nd Amendment was submitted to the states for ratification on 21 March 1947, after the House of Representatives and the Senate approved a joint resolution calling for a two-term limit for presidents. The text of the amendment states that it will not come into force unless it is ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states within seven years.
By the time the amendment was ratified by Minnesota on 27 February 1951, it had been ratified by 36 of the 48 states, with Massachusetts and Oklahoma rejecting it and five states taking no action. The amendment was subsequently ratified by Delaware, bringing the total number of ratifying states to 37.
Amendments and Education: The US Constitution's Impact
You may want to see also
Presidential eligibility
The Twenty-Second Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified on February 27, 1951, established term limits on those elected president. The amendment outlines that no person shall hold the office of the President for more than two terms. This amendment was precipitated by the four terms Franklin D. Roosevelt served as President, from 1932 to 1944.
Prior to the Twenty-Second Amendment, there were no official term limits for the President, although an unofficial tradition of serving no more than two terms had been established by George Washington.
To be eligible to run for President of the United States, an individual must meet the following requirements, as outlined in Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the Constitution:
- Be a natural-born citizen of the United States.
- Have attained the age of thirty-five years.
- Have been a resident within the United States for at least fourteen years.
These requirements ensure that the President's loyalties lie with the United States and that they have the necessary wisdom and experience to carry out the duties of the office effectively. The age requirement also limits candidates to those who best understand the national interests and are best able to promote those interests.
The US Constitution's Eighth Amendment: History and Context
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Twenty-second Amendment (Amendment XXII) to the US Constitution established term limits for the presidency.
The Twenty-second Amendment states that no person shall be elected to the office of the President of the United States more than twice. It also sets eligibility conditions for presidents who succeed to the unexpired terms of their predecessors.
The Twenty-second Amendment was ratified on February 27, 1951, when 36 out of 48 states had ratified it.
The Twenty-second Amendment was a reaction to Franklin D. Roosevelt's election to an unprecedented four terms as president. Roosevelt's violation of the longstanding two-term tradition prompted Congress and the states to turn the tradition into a formal matter of constitutional law.
The two-term tradition refers to the longstanding American tradition that presidents should not serve more than two terms. The tradition was established by early presidents such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, who decided not to seek a third term.
