the constitution

[clcandj]

In 1951, an amendment to the constitution set a limit on the number of terms a president may serve. Does anyone KNOW WHY this amendment was passed?

[NapoleonSolo]

The official reason was because Roosevelt had worked himself into the grave having served 3 full terms & just started a third. The Repubilcan controlled Congress & the Senate deemed more than two terms too much to expect from any man. A more cynical answer is that the Republicans were terrified the Democrats would have another popular "Roosevelt" type candidate who would serve term after term in the White House (the Democrats had held the Presidency since 1933).

[NapoleonSolo]

Sorry, Imeant to write, Roosevelt had just started a forth term.

[LordyGeordie]

George Washington only served 2 terms and refused to serve a third saying one man should not be able to have that much power and dominate politics.

Following thaat by tradition every president only served two terms as they felt if washington wasn't worthy of a third term, who was?

Up until roosevelt who really shook up the political establishemnt by sitting for a third and a fourth term (he died early in his fourth term). he cited WW2 and the depression as the need for continuity in government.

However, once the war ended it was agreed that there should be a law passed to stop presidents doing what roosevelt had done and not just a tradition.

[Peter Pedant]

yeah i agree

there was also the feeling that Roosevelt stood for his fourth term knowing that he was dying and that therefore the person who did most of the term that time, they hadnt voted for

[Peter Pedant]

Article in the Indie today, echoing just these sentiments expressed above.

Are we psychic or what?