# Presidential Term: One Six Year Term Instead Of One (Or Two) Four Year Terms? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 10, 2008, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011 "2008-11-10T07:22:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/1 "2008-11-10T07:22:41Z")
This debate used to be fairly common, but haven’t seen it pop up recently. Some have said that it would be better for American Presidents to really get the job done if they knew they had only one six year term, with no possibility of re-election. This would mean they could spend more time just doing what they promised and not have to worry about re-election and having to spend a lot of time walking on eggshells their first term. Others claim it would mean one six year term Presidents would make foolish mistakes and just go off the deep end, figuring they had nothing to lose anyway. Would there be any other advantages in making all Presidential terms a one-time, six year term with no possibility of being re-elected? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/2 "2008-11-10T10:55:40Z")
Six years is too short if he’s good, and too long if he’s a fuckup. ---
**Author:** ![Aquila\_Be](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a698b9/32.png) [@Aquila\_Be](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquila_Be)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/3 "2008-11-10T11:32:43Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > — Some have said that it would be better for American Presidents to really get the job done if they knew they had only one six year term, with no possibility of re-election. This would mean they could spend more time just doing what they promised and not have to worry about re-election and having to spend a lot of time walking on eggshells their first term. > > Others claim it would mean one six year term Presidents would make foolish mistakes and just go off the deep end, figuring they had nothing to lose anyway. I cannot understand how anyone with an ounce of common sense can believe that any _one person_ can “rule” a county, let alone a country. A Monarch cum President with absolute power, elected or not, is definitely not the most sensible way of governing a country. I favour the majority European approach. To have a President with no power or purpose other than to attend funerals of political figures in other countries. This ‘Head of State’ function is constitutionally required in the vast majority of European countries (France and Russia excepted, to their detriment). ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/4 "2008-11-10T12:10:03Z")
I think terms should remain the same, but they should allow three, if the people want to elect for a third term. If a guy’s on a roll, he should be able to continue. But not forever. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/5 "2008-11-10T13:24:52Z")
> [@Aquila\_Be](#): > > A Monarch cum President with absolute power, elected or not, is definitely not the most sensible way of governing a country. The President of the United States doesn’t have anything near absolute power. The Federal Government shares powers between three branches of government. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of separation of powers you might want to read through the following link. > **[Separation of powers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_powers)** > > The separation of powers principle functionally differentiates several types of state power (usually legislation, adjudication, and execution) and requires these operations of government to be conceptually and institutionally distinct and clearly articulated, thereby maintaining the integrity of each branch. To put this model into practice, government is divided into structurally independent branches to perform various functions (most often a legislature, a judiciary and an administration, Pol... ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/6 "2008-11-10T21:40:48Z")
One term, five years. Separately elected Attorney General, also five years, elected two years off. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/7 "2008-11-11T00:37:20Z")
Why don’t we ask the Mexicans how that’s worked out for them? ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/8 "2008-11-11T00:57:00Z")
I think the idea has merit; Nixon, Reagan, Clinton and Bush II all jumped the rails at about the six year mark. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/9 "2008-11-11T01:11:50Z")
How about this: two four-year terms, and a third term that’s only two years. Why that? Because a President in his second term is a lame duck almost from the get-go. He gets a bit of a boost during the first year of his new term, riding the wave of having been re-elected, but it’s generally downhill from there. Having the option of running again might help with that. And having that potential third term being only two years would shorten the genuine lame-duck term. Besides, ten years is really about as long as anyone should be President. If you haven’t accomplished what you intended to by then, you’re probably not going to. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/10 "2008-11-11T01:37:31Z")
For what it’s worth, that was what the Confederate Constitution had. Jefferson Davis’ term of office would have finished in 1867 - if things had worked out. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/11 "2008-11-11T02:23:27Z")
Has any state experimented with a gubernatorial term longer than 4 years? I know 2-year terms used to be common (only Vermont & New Hampshire have them now) and a few states had 3 terms. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/12 "2008-11-11T02:51:59Z")
How about a 2-year term and a 6-year term? Total of 8 but you don’t get stuck with a doofus for 6 unless you really like the doofus. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/13 "2008-11-11T03:19:19Z")
I like the way the ancient Pagan kings did it. You get one term of seven years, and then you are ritually killed for the good of the tribe. I think we should all adopt this, whichever country we live in. Who is with me? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/14 "2008-11-11T03:45:59Z")
The good thing about running for reelection is that politicians have to heed their constituents’ desires. The bad thing about running for reelection is that politicians have to heed their constituents’ desires. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/15 "2008-11-11T05:48:21Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I like the way the ancient Pagan kings did it. You get one term of seven years, and then you are ritually killed for the good of the tribe. I think we should all adopt this, whichever country we live in. Who is with me? Who is with you? After that post like that the Secret Service may be with you. Very soon. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/16 "2008-11-11T22:10:34Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I like the way the ancient Pagan kings did it. You get one term of seven years, and then you are ritually killed for the good of the tribe. I think we should all adopt this, whichever country we live in. Who is with me? Five. Five years. (Haven’t you read any of the work of Fang the Unwashed?) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/17 "2008-11-11T22:38:38Z")
Doesn’t France allow 7 year terms? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/18 "2008-11-11T23:35:51Z")
Dunno, but the tribe certainly knows how to kill their kings. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/19 "2008-11-12T01:06:48Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Doesn’t France allow 7 year terms? They used to. It’s been shortened to 5 years to coincide with the National Assembly. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011/20 "2008-11-12T01:24:25Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > The President of the United States doesn’t have anything near absolute power. The Federal Government shares powers between three branches of government. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of separation of powers you might want to read through the following link. > > [Separation of powers - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_powers) That was before Bush and Cheney. They politicized the AG and the courts. They had fingers in all pies. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-term-one-six-year-term-instead-of-one-or-two-four-year-terms/472011.md?page=2)