What is the maximum number of terms a President can serve?

The maximum number of terms a President can serve is two terms. This limitation is established by the 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1951. The amendment was enacted in response to Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms in office, which raised concerns about the concentration of power in the executive branch.

The 22nd Amendment specifically states that no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and it also clarifies that if someone serves as President for more than two years of a term to which someone else was elected, they can only be elected to one additional full term. This ensures that no individual can hold the presidency for more than ten years.

Understanding this historical context illustrates why the limit of two terms was deemed necessary to prevent the potential for an extended presidency that could lead to authoritarianism or a lack of democratic accountability.