Eleanor Finch
Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president four times from 1932 to 1944, making him the only president to be elected for a third and fourth term. This unprecedented act was barred by the Twenty-second Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified on February 27, 1951, and limits the president to two terms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amendment Number | XXII |
| Ratification | Passed by Congress February 27, 1947. Ratified by the States February 27, 1951. |
| Text | 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 the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the period between the adoption of this Article and its ratification from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term. |
| Purpose | To prevent any future president from serving more than two terms, or more than 10 years if they serve out the remainder of another president's term. |
| History | Prompted by Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms as president, and his death during his fourth term. |
| Application | Applies to all future presidents, except in the case where a president is already in office, in which case they are exempt from the two-term limit for their current term and can run for one more term. |
| Current Relevance | There have been recent discussions about the possibility of removing or amending this amendment to allow for the potential of a president to serve more than two terms. |
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What You'll Learn
FDR was the first and only president to serve four terms
Franklin D. Roosevelt, or FDR, was the first and only president to serve four terms. He was first elected in 1932 and went on to be elected three more times, serving until his death on April 12, 1945, just 11 weeks into his fourth term.
FDR's unprecedented third-term election in 1940 broke a long-held precedent set by George Washington in 1796. While multiple presidents had sought third terms before, FDR's election came as the United States was in the midst of the Great Depression and on the brink of World War II, allowing him to make a strong case for stability.
The idea of a president serving unlimited terms was met with concern, and FDR's decision to run for a fourth term resulted in key Democratic supporters and advisors leaving his campaign. Despite this, he won the 1944 election with 54% of the popular vote.
In response to FDR's four terms, the 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951, limiting presidents to two terms. This amendment established that no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice and addressed concerns about the accumulation of power and the potential for abuse.
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The 22nd Amendment limits presidents to two terms
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the only president in US history to be elected for four terms, serving from 1932 to 1945. This unprecedented feat sparked concerns about the potential abuse of power by a long-term president, leading to the proposal of a constitutional amendment to limit presidential terms.
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 was approved and sent to the states for ratification. However, it took until February 1951 for enough states to ratify the amendment, now known as the Twenty-second Amendment.
The Twenty-second Amendment establishes that no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and it outlines stipulations regarding eligibility for unfinished presidential terms. This amendment was a direct response to Roosevelt's four terms and set a precedent to prevent any future president from accumulating too much power.
Since the ratification of the Twenty-second Amendment, all subsequent presidents have adhered to the two-term limit. While there have been attempts to modify or repeal the amendment, these efforts have not been successful. The amendment stands as a safeguard against the potential concentration of power in the executive branch and ensures regular transitions in leadership.
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The 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the only president in US history to be elected for four terms, serving from 1932 to 1945. Roosevelt's unprecedented third and fourth terms, which came at a time of economic instability and war, raised concerns about a president serving unlimited terms. This led to the proposal of a constitutional amendment to limit presidential terms.
In March 1947, a Republican-controlled Congress approved the 22nd Amendment, which set a limit of two four-year terms for future presidents. The amendment included an exception for the sitting president, allowing Roosevelt's successor, Harry S. Truman, to run for a third term. However, Truman decided against seeking re-election for a third term.
The 22nd Amendment was ratified on February 27, 1951, when Minnesota became the 36th state to approve the proposed change, pushing it past the three-quarters threshold required for ratification. The amendment established that no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and limited the eligibility of succession for unfinished presidential terms.
Since the ratification of the 22nd Amendment, all subsequent US presidents have served no more than two elected terms. While there have been attempts to modify or repeal the amendment, none have been successful. The 22nd Amendment remains a significant aspect of the US Constitution, ensuring a check on presidential power and preventing the accumulation of excessive authority.
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FDR's four terms were a consequence of the Great Depression and World War II
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, or FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is the only US president to have served more than two terms, winning an unprecedented four consecutive elections.
FDR's four terms were indeed a consequence of the Great Depression and World War II. He was first elected in 1932, in the midst of the Great Depression, as Americans believed he could combat the economic crisis more effectively than his Republican opponent, Herbert Hoover. FDR promised a "new deal" and delivered on this promise by implementing a series of innovative policies and reforms that helped pull the United States back from the brink of economic and social disaster.
FDR's second term focused on continuing the recovery from the Great Depression, but by 1940, the percentage of Americans without jobs remained high, and the country's economy was still struggling. The entry of the US into World War II in 1941 marked a shift in focus for FDR's administration. He became the Commander-in-Chief of a massive American military force and guided the nation through treacherous international relations and the challenges posed by Germany and Japan.
FDR's third and fourth terms were dominated by World War II, and he played a key role in shaping and financing the war effort. His leadership during this time of instability helped him win a strong mandate for his fourth term in 1944, despite some opposition to his breaking of Washington's two-term precedent.
FDR's unprecedented four terms led to the ratification of the 22nd Amendment in 1951, which limited future presidents to two terms. This amendment was a response to concerns about the potential abuse of power by a long-term president and ensured that FDR remains the only US president to serve four terms.
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FDR's third term broke a precedent set by George Washington
Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president four times from 1932 to 1944. On November 5, 1940, he became the first president to be elected for a third term, breaking a long-held precedent set by George Washington in 1796. Washington declined a third term, setting a two-term precedent that was followed by most presidents until it was formally codified into law in 1951.
The precedent was set when Washington decided to pass on a third term, setting up a scramble between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson in the fall race. In 1799, a friend urged Washington to come out of retirement and run for a third term. Washington declined, stating that the line between political parties had become so clearly drawn that politicians disregarded truth and decency. Washington's decision was also seen as a safeguard against tyrannical power, a message that wasn't lost on Theodore Roosevelt, who considered running for a third term in 1908 despite his public pledges not to.
Roosevelt's decision to break the two-term precedent was made in July 1940, as the United States neared its entry into World War II. The decision dominated his election campaign against the Republican contender, Wendell Wilkie. Despite the controversy, Roosevelt won the election by a wide margin, and he went on to win a fourth election in 1944.
The popular backlash against the concept of a long-term president, however, led to the ratification of the 22nd Amendment in 1951, which limited presidents to two terms. This amendment was a direct response to Roosevelt's unprecedented third and fourth terms and officially codified the precedent set by Washington into law. Since the ratification of the 22nd Amendment, all subsequent presidents have served for no longer than two elected terms.
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Frequently asked questions
The Twenty-second Amendment, also known as Amendment 22, addresses FDR serving four terms.
The Twenty-second Amendment states that "No person shall be 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 President shall be elected to the office of President more than once".
The Twenty-second Amendment was ratified on February 27, 1951.
The Twenty-second Amendment was introduced to limit the power of the president and prevent abuse of power. There were concerns about a president serving unlimited terms and accumulating too much power.
