What Does the Constitution Actually Say?
The primary constitutional provision governing presidential term limits is the 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951 after Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected four times.
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The amendment states: Politics
“No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
At first glance, the wording seems straightforward.
Barack Obama has already been elected president twice:
2008
2012
Under the plain language of the amendment, he cannot be elected a third time. Politics(Left)
For most constitutional scholars, this settles the matter.
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Why Do Some People Think There Is a Loophole?
The debate exists because the amendment specifically says: ExecutiveBranch
“elected”
It does not explicitly say:
“serve.”
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This distinction has led some legal commentators to argue that the Constitution may prohibit being elected more than twice without necessarily preventing someone from becoming president through another constitutional mechanism. ConstitutionalLaw & Civil Rights
This interpretation has generated interesting academic debates, although it remains highly controversial.
