U.S. Presidents' Term Limits

U.S. Presidents' Term Limits

The presidency of the United States is granted by popular vote every four years. The Constitution limits presidents to two terms of office. However, these terms can either be consecutive or nonconsecutive. If a president does not serve their second term due to death, resignation, or removal from office before it begins, they cannot run again.

Consecutive Terms

Most presidents have served two four-year terms consecutively, with the first being in the year of their election and the second starting immediately after the end of the first term. For example, Grover Cleveland, 22nd President of the United States, was elected and began serving his first term in 1885. He lost reelection in 1889 but won in 1893 to begin his second consecutive term. This pattern has been followed by most two-term presidents since George H.W. Bush, who served two consecutive terms.

Nonconsecutive Terms

There are instances where a president did not serve a second term in office but could still make a come back later. A classic example is Grover Cleveland. After losing his bid for another term in 1889, he returned in 1893 for his second consecutive term. There are other examples of this phenomenon as well, such as James Madison and Andrew Jackson, though they served several decades apart.

Exceptional Cases

One notable exception to the traditional two-term limit is Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), 32nd President of the US. Having been elected for three terms, FDR sought a fourth term but died shortly after the start of his final term. Another interesting case involves John Tyler, the 10th President, who acceded to the presidency upon the death of William Henry Harrison. In effect, Tyler became the first vice president to succeed to the presidency upon the death of the incumbent, prior to the passing of the 22nd Amendment. Despite this unique circumstance, Tyler never completed a full term and therefore avoided the restrictions imposed by the amendment.