A U.S. president can serve a maximum of two elected terms, each lasting four years, according to the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution ratified in 1951
. This means a president can be elected twice but no more than that. However, there is an important nuance for vice presidents or others who assume the presidency mid-term:
- If they serve more than two years of a predecessor’s term, they can only be elected president once afterward.
- If they serve two years or less of the predecessor’s term, they can be elected twice, potentially serving nearly ten years total
This amendment was enacted after Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to four terms, breaking the previous tradition set by George Washington and others of serving no more than two terms
. Since the amendment’s ratification, no president has served more than two elected terms. In summary:
- Maximum of two elected terms (8 years total) for most presidents.
- Up to 10 years possible if a vice president or successor serves less than two years of a predecessor’s term before being elected twice
No president can legally run for a third elected term under the current constitutional rules
