How many terms can a president serve — is this definitely Trump’s last?
Donald Trump has declared ‘magnificent victory’ in the US presidential elections in an astonishing political comeback four years after leaving the White House.
Broadcasters including Fox News and NBC have projected that the former President will win a second term — though if he does, he will not take office until January to allow for a transition period to take place. If he clinches it, Trump willbreak a 132-year-old record, joining Grover Cleveland as the only two presidents to serve two non-consecutive terms.
The US has seen 46 presidents since George Washington’s first administration in 1789, including Trump. But how long is one allowed to serve for? And is there a loophole to staying in the Oval Office beyond the elected term?
Here’s all you need to know…
Who was the first US president?
The first President of the United States was George Washington, a former military general, who served as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Washington was sworn in as president on April 30 1789 on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York, and held office until March 1797 when he was succeeded by John Adams.
At this stage of the Presidency, leaders were chosen solely through the votes of the Electoral College, with Washington winning 69 of the votes in 1789 and all 132 of the available votes ahead of his second term in 1792 — making him the only US president ever to have been elected unanimously.
Washington was also the only US President not to live in the White House, which was not completed until after his death.
How many terms can a US president serve?
An elected US president can only serve two four-year terms in office.
This is spelled out in the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which states that ‘no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice’.
Can they ever serve longer?
They can. But only if someone assumes the role of presidency through the order of succession. In other words, taking office due to the death or resignation of the previous President, or if they are removed from office.
Under those circumstances, Presidents are allowed to serve an additional two years.
The limit on terms of office was not approved by Congress until 1947, later being ratified in 1951 — but most presidents took it upon themselves to serve no more than two terms in office.
The only person to have served more than two terms was Franklin D Roosevelt, who was elected in 1932, 1936, 1940 and 1944. The iconic war-time leader died during his fourth term in office in 1945.
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