This constitutional provision, particularly relevant for students of United States history and government, establishes a limit on presidential terms. It stipulates that no person shall be elected to the office of President more than twice, and further clarifies conditions regarding those who have served more than two years of another president’s term. For example, if a Vice President assumes the presidency with more than two years left in the term, they are only eligible to be elected president once.
Its significance lies in preventing the potential for an individual to accumulate excessive power over an extended period, addressing concerns about authoritarianism that arose following Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s four terms in office. The measure ensures a regular turnover in leadership, promoting democratic principles and preventing any single individual from dominating the executive branch for an undue length of time. Its ratification has shaped the landscape of presidential elections and the dynamics of American politics.
