Today in history: The two-term limitation begins

In 1951, the 22nd Amendment was ratified, limiting U.S. presidents to two terms

Franklin Roosevelt is the only president to have been elected to more than two terms.
(Image credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Feb. 27, 1951: The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, limiting presidents to two terms in office. Passed after the death of President Franklin Roosevelt — who was elected to four terms in office — the amendment says, "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term."

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