# It's time to repeal the 22nd amendment. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 30, 2016, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-repeal-the-22nd-amendment/758752 "2016-06-30T02:30:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-repeal-the-22nd-amendment/758752/61 "2016-07-07T05:23:53Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution basically limits a presidency to two terms, with certain provisions. > > If it weren’t for the 22nd Amendment, Clinton could have served a third term, instead of Dubya, and Obama would be a shoo-in for 2016. I can’t remember a Republican who could have won a 3rd term. > > And the amendment violates the right of the voters to elect the person of their choice. Reagan would have won until the Alzheimer’s kicked in. He wiped the floor with his democratic challengers. As a democrat I can only imagine how much better our country would have been with a 3 or 4 term Clinton presidency. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-repeal-the-22nd-amendment/758752/62 "2016-07-07T12:29:51Z")
> [@Bruce\_Wayne](#): > > I believe the OP started this thread with the idea of a third and possibly a fourth Billy/Barry term. Our country isn’t really left of center though, it’s more of a moderate right and if the right Republican candidate comes along then it might not be a good thing for Democrats. Where in the world did you get the idea that Bubba and/or Barack are/were left of center? ETA My apologies if I’ve misread you and you’re aware that neither of them is. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-repeal-the-22nd-amendment/758752/63 "2016-07-07T20:24:28Z")
> [@spamforbrains](#): > > Actually, rather than repeal it, I think we should extend it to all elected politicians- two terms and you’re out. It would prevent a lot of damage caused by entrenched ‘career politicians’ at the local, state, and federal level. THIS! Term limits on Congress. Max of 12 years, period, whether Senate, House or mixed. And no pensions. For that matter, let’s term limit the Federal Bench. Instead of serving for life, they get 10 years and then they are out. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-repeal-the-22nd-amendment/758752/64 "2016-07-07T20:40:01Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > If you can’t get it happening in eight years, it ain’t going to happen. That’s just not true. You really can’t think of any accomplishments that might take longer than 8 years to see through? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-repeal-the-22nd-amendment/758752/65 "2016-07-07T21:04:01Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > THIS! > > Term limits on Congress. Max of 12 years, period, whether Senate, House or mixed. And no pensions. For that matter, let’s term limit the Federal Bench. Instead of serving for life, they get 10 years and then they are out. Nonsense. Running a superpower is no job for amateurs. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-repeal-the-22nd-amendment/758752/66 "2016-07-08T00:41:11Z")
Perhaps I missed it, but Eisenhower certainly COULD have won again in 1960. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bruce\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-repeal-the-22nd-amendment/758752/67 "2016-07-08T00:51:00Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Where in the world did you get the idea that Bubba and/or Barack are/were left of center? > > ETA My apologies if I’ve misread you and you’re aware that neither of them is. Yes I would consider both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama left of center and I have no desire to engage with you in an overly pendantic hijack of why they’re not. It’s irrelevant to the point I was making. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-repeal-the-22nd-amendment/758752/68 "2016-07-08T17:03:04Z")
During the terms limits craze some years back I was of the opinion that there shouldn’t be term limits – if the people want to keep re-electing someone, let 'em – but there shouldn’t be any pensions for elected officials either. If someone wants to put in 30 years as senator or representative, he can but he’d better have been contributing to his 401k like the rest of us. I believe the Founding Fathers saw elective office as a _noblesse oblige_ sort of a deal. You’d serve a couple or few terms in service to your state or country then go back to being a shopkeeper or planter or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-repeal-the-22nd-amendment/758752/69 "2016-07-08T22:23:50Z")
I’'ve been taught that, but if it’s true, that was a very different time in several relevant ways. ---
**Author:** ![bizerta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@bizerta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizerta)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-repeal-the-22nd-amendment/758752/70 "2016-07-11T21:21:15Z")
My personal philosophy: You can run as many times as you want, but never two consecutive terms. Everyone should spend at least one term back in the field to experience the real world. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-repeal-the-22nd-amendment/758752/71 "2016-07-11T23:20:22Z")
Somebody want to explain this objection to “dynasties”, and how they can even exist with regular elections? ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-repeal-the-22nd-amendment/758752/72 "2016-07-12T01:58:11Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I get the arguments against term limits, but the idea of a President serving no more than two terms was unwritten law from the beginning, and only became written law because a President violated it, albeit with good reason. Yeah we never would have been able to keep the depression going that long without Roosevelt. Better keep electing that guy. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-repeal-the-22nd-amendment/758752/73 "2016-07-12T04:04:10Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Somebody want to explain this objection to “dynasties”, and how they can even exist with regular elections? Putin, basically. The issue with dynasties is that small, tight-knit groups can sometimes build up a powerbase that is extremely difficult to defeat politically, even if it’s not actually good for the nation at large. In addition, the creation of such dynasties has a bad habit of tending to undermine democratic/republican vitality in the long term, while actively and passively squashing or shoving aside any potential rivals (who may better represent the country’s identity, desires, or needs) before they can become political threats. Even if not wielded maliciously (cue cynical response), I have real doubts political dynasties will ever end except in self-serving behavior. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-repeal-the-22nd-amendment/758752.md?page=3)