Term Limits for Leaders

Many countries limit how long a leader can hold office. George Washington set an informal two-term tradition by declining a third term in 1796. Franklin D. Roosevelt broke it, winning four elections from 1932 to 1944, and the 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, made the two-term limit law. Mexico's revolutionaries made 'no re-election' a core principle, and the country's presidents serve a single six-year term. Parliamentary democracies usually have no term limits for prime ministers, relying instead on parties and elections to remove leaders.

Supporters say term limits prevent the accumulation of personal power and guarantee turnover; critics say they remove experienced leaders and deny voters a choice. Researchers have documented many attempts by presidents to extend or evade limits, through constitutional amendments, court rulings or new constitutions, making term limits an important indicator of how institutions constrain individuals.