how many terms can a president serve in america

A president of the United States can serve a maximum of two elected terms, each lasting four years, according to the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, states that no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice. Additionally, if a person serves more than two years of a term to which someone else was elected (such as succeeding a vice president), they can only be elected once more. This effectively limits the maximum time a president can serve to about eight years, though under certain succession scenarios it could be nearly ten years. This two-term limit was implemented largely in response to Franklin D. Roosevelt's four consecutive terms as president, disrupting the prior tradition established by George Washington of serving no more than two terms.