A U.S. president can serve a maximum of two elected terms, each lasting four years, for a total of eight years in office according to the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1951
. However, there is an exception for vice presidents or other successors who assume the presidency mid-term. If they serve two years or less of the predecessor's term, they can still be elected president twice, potentially allowing them to serve up to 10 years in total. But if they serve more than two years of the predecessor's term, they can only be elected once more, limiting their total time to less than 10 years
. In summary:
- Maximum of two elected 4-year terms (8 years total).
- Up to 10 years possible if succeeding a president mid-term with less than two years remaining.
- No president can be elected more than twice.
This amendment was enacted to formalize the two-term tradition established by George Washington and to prevent indefinite presidential tenure, which was broken only by Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was elected to four terms before the amendment was passed
