Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution

The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution sets a limit on the number of times a person is eligible for election to the office of President of the United States, and also sets additional eligibility conditions for presidents who succeed to the unexpired terms of their predecessors.

Text

The official text of the amendment states:

"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 term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term."

Background

Prior to the ratification of the Twenty-second Amendment, there were no term limits for the President of the United States. The tradition of serving no more than two terms was established by George Washington, but it was not until the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was elected to four terms, that the need for a constitutional amendment limiting presidential terms was widely recognized.

Ratification

The Twenty-second Amendment was proposed by the United States Congress on March 24, 1947, and was ratified by the necessary number of states on February 27, 1951. The ratification process was completed when Minnesota became the 36th state to ratify the amendment.

Impact

The amendment has had a significant impact on the presidency and presidential elections. It has ensured that no single individual can hold the office of President for more than two terms, thereby promoting democratic principles and preventing the concentration of power. The amendment also addresses the scenario in which a Vice President or other successor to the presidency serves more than two years of a predecessor's term, limiting such a successor to only one additional elected term.

Controversies and Criticisms

The Twenty-second Amendment has been the subject of criticism and controversy. Some argue that it infringes on the democratic right of the people to elect whomever they wish as President, regardless of previous terms served. Others believe that the amendment is necessary to prevent the emergence of a dictatorial leadership and to ensure the rotation of leadership.

See Also

• Presidency of the United States
• Franklin D. Roosevelt
• George Washington
• United States Constitution
• Presidential term limits