Although he died in office he was elected to four terms. No other president served over 8 years and I thought that was how it was originally set up in the constitution or was this added after Roosevelt's 4 terms.
2006-07-21 08:00:35 · 21 answers · asked by Ben S 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
The Twenty-second Amendment of the United States Constitution sets a term limit for the President of the United States, providing that "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." Prior to the adoption of the amendment, the constitution set no limit on the number of presidential terms. The United States Congress proposed the amendment on March 21, 1947. It was ratified by the requisite number of states on February 27, 1951.
2006-07-21 08:03:08 · answer #1 · answered by Cheesie M 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Roosevelt was not only allows to serve for 4 terms but also strongly demanded by the country during his time.
It was a time period in which the whole country was facing extreme poverty (Depressive-postdepressive era), and many people actually grew up listening to FDR's voice over the radio as a source of information and comfort.
FDR though many times unsuccessful, created countless reforms and programs which finally pulled the country from its rut and into a time of prosperity not seen or remembered or even hoped for by the US for some time.
While other Presidents were fully eligable by the Constitution to serve more than 2 terms, FDR was the first and last.
An amendment was made to the Constitution in order to prevent future occurances.
2006-07-21 08:05:43 · answer #2 · answered by savage_insight 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The two term tradition was started by George Washington, but there was never a prohibition in the Constitution against serving more than two terms, it was just a custom. After Roosevelt, the Constitution was amended to prohibit presidents from serving more than two terms. The Republicans who sponsored that amendment very soon regretted doing that since Eisenhower most likely could have gotten elected to a third term. Shows that when you do something for political reasons, it usually comes back to bite you. Now Presidents are called lame ducks in their second term, since everyone knows there is no possibility of their running again.
2006-07-21 08:05:23 · answer #3 · answered by rollo_tomassi423 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
President Franklin Roosevelt served one month of his 4th term, then he died.
George Washington served 2 terms and then willingly stepped down from power (how many leaders would do that, especially when offered a lifetime position?)
All presidents before FDR respected the 2 term tradition.
Constitutional amendment limits president to 2 terms.
2006-07-21 08:09:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know this is basic high school history stuff. You should know already. Washington had established the tradition of 2 terms. Until FDR, all have only had two. But he was the guy for the job, & won 4 times. The 22nd Amendment established a 2 term limit in 1951
2006-07-21 08:09:35 · answer #5 · answered by lana_sands 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
before FDR, there were no term limits on the president, but no president served more than two terms because it was a tradition. FDR broke the tradition and after he died they made a new constitutional amendment (cant remember which one) limiting the president to two terms.
FDR was actually elected to 4 terms but only served 3 because he did before the 4th started.
2006-07-21 08:04:17 · answer #6 · answered by grdenko 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He served four terms because the people kept re-electing him and there wasn't a law saying how much terms a president could serve. It was after he died that it was put in the Constitution that a president could only served two terms.
2006-07-21 08:08:11 · answer #7 · answered by Patricia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
GEORGE WASHINGTON SET UP THE 2 TERM PRESIDENT WHEN HE DECIDED NOT TO RUN A 3RD TERM. BUT THAT WAS ALL IT WAS.
AFTER ROOSEVELT 4 TH TERM ELECT, A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WAS PASSED TO LIMIT IT TO TWO TERMS.
I BELIEVE THE AMENDMENT SAYS 2 CONSECUTIVE TERMS BUT DOES NOT ADDRESS BEING OUT OF OFFICE AND THEN RUNNING AGAIN, BUT NO ONE HAS EVER DONE THAT. NOTE- PREVIOUSLY MOST WERE TOO OLD BY THAT TIME. NOT NECESSARILY SO THESE DAYS.
L. HERMANN
2006-07-21 08:14:23 · answer #8 · answered by PUFF 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was sort of an unwritten rule before him.
After him they amended the constitution
And by the way, he really only served three terms, as he died fairly soon after being elected for the 4th time.
2006-07-21 08:07:45 · answer #9 · answered by X 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow reading these answers just makes me wonder about the American Educational System. To those who stated that the constitutional amendment was added after FDR's died, please ignore this rant. To the rest start reading and put down the remote control go head I know its stuck to your hand start reading. Put down the chips and fatty food that is blocking the blood to your brain and start exercising your mind. My god this is a damn shame that the majority thought that it was because of the war. OH The founding Fathers are rolling in their tombs. God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
2006-07-21 16:03:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋