The two-term limit on U.S. presidents, enshrined in the 22nd Amendment, has once again come into the spotlight following recent discussions surrounding former President Donald Trump. Pam Bondi, former Attorney General of Florida, explained what a Trump return to politics means to her. She elaborated on these by mentioning how constitutional limitations might be dangerous to his ambitions.
The 22 nd Amendment as ratified by the states in 1951. It allows no one the possibility of election to the presidency more than two — that is, subsequent to the passage. This amendment was a direct reaction to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s unprecedented four-term presidency. His tenure in office came to an end with his death in 1945. The original intent of the amendment was to guard against the danger that any single person might accumulate excessive power via prolonged tenure.
Legal experts immediately started explaining why the 22nd Amendment is important. Their implication is that no individual should ever be able to hold the office of president longer than two full terms. The democratic amendment would protect our democratic process from continued self-serving leaders and encourage fresh leadership, creating a healthier political climate.
Bondi went onto say that Trump can do no wrong in the eyes of some. He’s got big hurdles to overcome due to the two-term limit. “But I think he’s going to be finished, probably, after this term,” she stated, underscoring the complexities that any attempt to alter this constitutional provision would entail.
To amend the Constitution requires a two-thirds vote from each chamber of Congress. Following that, three-fourths of the 50 states need to ratify the amendment. With the current political environment, making that kind of agreement feels impossible. The intricate process reflects the framers’ intention to protect the Constitution from hasty changes that could undermine its foundational principles.
Trump himself acknowledged the potential for reform, saying, “There are methods which you could do it.” Without important bipartisan support, these approaches can only ever be an idea – not a reality.
The 12th Amendment makes the discussion around presidential succession and term limits even more complicated. It sets forth processes for the election of the president and vice-president. At the federal level, if the president is unable to continue serving, the vice-president assumes office and becomes president. This reform helps advance ongoing governance and accountability, while still providing clear lines of eligibility for the presidency.
Nationally, political commentators can’t stop chattering about this. They have long viewed their two-term limit as a critical safeguard of American democracy. It protects against any one person from amassing too much power and powers new leadership to come forward.