Representative Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) has introduced a resolution to amend the U.S. Constitution, potentially allowing President Donald Trump to serve a third term in office.

The proposed amendment, introduced on Thursday, January 23, 2025, seeks to modify the 22nd Amendment, which currently limits presidents to two terms. According to the resolution, “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times, nor be elected to any additional term after being elected to two consecutive terms”.

Already 78 years old, Trump would be 82 at the beginning of a third term. 

Rep. Ogles justified his proposal by stating, “Trump has proven himself to be the only figure in modern history capable of reversing our nation’s decay and restoring America to greatness, and he must be given the time necessary to accomplish that goal.”

This resolution comes just days after Trump’s inauguration for his second, non-consecutive term, making him only the second U.S. president to achieve this feat. If passed, the amendment would not only benefit Trump but could also apply to future presidents, including Vice President JD Vance, who is first in the presidential line of succession.

However, the path to ratification is steep. Constitutional amendments require approval from two-thirds of both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures.

This isn’t the first time Trump has hinted at serving beyond two terms. During his previous term, he made several comments suggesting a willingness to remain in office longer, although these were often dismissed as jokes.

Precedents for Term Limits

The concept of term limits for U.S. presidents has a long and complex history, with several key precedents leading up to the ratification of the 22nd Amendment in 1951. Here are the main historical precedents for term limit amendments in the U.S. Constitution:

Early Debates and Informal Precedents

During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates extensively debated presidential term limits. While some, like Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, supported lifetime tenure for presidents, others favored fixed terms. George Mason opposed life tenure, likening it to elective monarchy. Ultimately, the Framers settled on four-year terms with no restrictions on re-election.

Despite the lack of formal restrictions, two early precedents emerged:

1. George Washington’s two-term tradition: In 1796, Washington declined to run for a third term, establishing an informal two-term limit.
2. Thomas Jefferson’s support: Jefferson also chose not to seek a third term, further solidifying the two-term tradition.

Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Push for Change

The informal two-term tradition held for over 150 years until Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency:

• FDR was elected to an unprecedented four terms in 1932, 1936, 1940, and 1944.
• His extended tenure during the Great Depression and World War II sparked concerns about potential abuse of power.

The 22nd Amendment

In response to Roosevelt’s four terms, Congress moved to formalize presidential term limits:

• In 1947, the House of Representatives approved a joint resolution limiting future presidents to two four-year terms.
• After Senate revisions, the proposed amendment was sent to the states for ratification on March 21, 1947.
• The ratification process was completed on February 27, 1951, making the 22nd Amendment part of the Constitution.

Key Provisions of the 22nd Amendment

The amendment includes several important elements:

1. Two-term limit: No person can be elected president more than twice.
2. Partial term provision: If someone serves more than two years of another president’s term, they can only be elected once more.
3. Grandfather clause: The amendment did not apply to the sitting president (Harry Truman) when it was proposed.

This Happened in Russia and China, too

Russia

In a significant move that extended his rule until 2036, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law amending the country’s constitution to allow him to run for two additional six-year terms in 2021. 

Before Putin signed the law in 2021 allowing him to run for two additional six-year terms, Russia’s constitution had the following provisions regarding presidential terms:

• The president was limited to two consecutive six-year terms.
• After serving two consecutive terms, a president had to step down for at least one term before being eligible to run again.
• The constitution did not specify a limit on the total number of terms a person could serve as president, only on consecutive terms.
• Presidential terms were originally four years long, but this was changed to six years in 2008, taking effect from the 2012 election.
• Under these rules, Putin had served two four-year terms from 2000 to 2008, then stepped aside for one term while serving as prime minister, before returning for two six-year terms from 2012 to 2024.
• Prior to the 2021 amendment, Putin would have been required to step down in 2024 after completing his second consecutive term and fourth overall term as president.

The 2021 constitutional change effectively reset Putin’s term count, allowing him to potentially serve two more six-year terms and remain in power until 2036, when he would be 83 years old.

China

On March 11, 2018, China’s National People’s Congress voted almost unanimously to remove the two-term limit on the presidency and vice presidency from the country’s constitution. This amendment effectively allows President Xi Jinping to remain in office indefinitely, beyond the previous limit of two five-year terms.

Historical Context

The presidential term limit was first introduced in China’s constitution in 1982, following the tumultuous era of Mao Zedong’s rule. It was part of a series of reforms implemented by Deng Xiaoping to prevent the concentration of power in a single leader and ensure a smooth transition of leadership every decade.

Before the 2018 constitutional amendment, China’s law regarding presidential terms was as follows:

1. The president was limited to two consecutive five-year terms, totaling 10 years in office.
2. This term limit was established in 1982 when Deng Xiaoping introduced it as part of the country’s fourth constitution.
3. The two-term limit applied to both the president and vice president positions.
4. The purpose of this limitation was to prevent the concentration of power in a single leader and ensure a smooth transition of leadership every decade.
5. This system was part of a series of reforms implemented by Deng Xiaoping to avoid the potential for autocratic rule similar to that seen during Mao Zedong’s era.
6. The term limit was specifically designed to foster collective leadership and institutionalize regular power transitions within the Communist Party of China.
7. Under this system, presidents like Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao served two five-year terms before stepping down.

It’s important to note that while the presidency had term limits, other key positions such as General Secretary of the Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission did not have such restrictions. The 2018 amendment aligned the presidency with these other positions, effectively removing the last formal obstacle to extended rule.