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Can a U.S. President Serve a Third Term?
Jan 30, 2026 12:33 PM

  

Can a U.S. President Serve a Third Term?1

  Franklin D. Roosevelt The only U.S. president to have been elected to the office more than twice is Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was elected a third time in 1940 and a fourth time in 1944. (more) Can a U.S. President Serve a Third Term? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Can-a-U-S-President-Serve-a-Third-Term Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

  External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Brian Duignan Brian Duignan is a senior editor at Encyclopædia Britannica. His subject areas include philosophy, law, social science, politics, political theory, and religion. Brian Duignan Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Apr 2, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Among legal scholars, pundits, and politicians, the most common answer to this question is no. According to this view, the Twenty-second Amendment (1951) to the Constitution of the United States effectively prohibits any twice-elected president from serving a third term; it also blocks a second elected term for any person who spent more than two years serving or acting as president during a term to which another person had been elected. The first sentence of the amendment reads as follows: The Twenty-second Amendment was introduced by a Republican-controlled Congress in the wake of the presidency of Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt ...(100 of 710 words)

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