In the United States, a president is elected to serve a term of four years
. The president can be re-elected once, making the maximum number of elected terms two, or a total of eight years in office
. This limit is established by the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1951, which restricts any person from being elected president more than twice
. Additionally, if a vice president or another successor assumes the presidency and serves less than two years of the previous president's term, they can still be elected for two full terms. However, if they serve more than two years of the predecessor's term, they are limited to one additional elected term
. To summarize:
- Presidential term length: 4 years
- Maximum elected terms: 2 (total of 8 years)
- Possible extension up to nearly 10 years in special succession cases
This system balances continuity in leadership with preventing prolonged concentration of power in one individual
