Why Can American Presidents Run for a Second Term?

1. 60

   Evankovachposted 12 years ago

   Why Can American Presidents Run for a Second Term?
   
   Why are President's allowed to have (2) relatively short terms instead of (1) longer term to prevent campaigning while in office? Obviously this can lead to less governing and more politicking.

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2. 72

   lburmasterposted 12 years ago

   In case people like the president. If people do not like the president after 4 years, then he can be replaced. I think it is one of the best choices in history to be able to have an escape route. Well, that is ours.

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3. 56

   feenixposted 12 years ago

   The one-and-only reason why a U.S. president can run for a second term is The Constitution of the United States of America says that it is okay for him/her to do so.
   
   And in that same vein, the U.S. Constitution says that a president can only hold that office for two four-year terms.
   
   Furthermore, it was the intent of America's founders to keep government in a state of flux and confusion. That way, the "powers that be" will never have the luxury of knowing that they will remain in office, no matter what they impose, or attempt to impose, on the people.

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4. 83

   cprice75posted 12 years ago

   They can run for a second term as long as they were not a vice president who became president (for whatever reason) before the half-way point of their term as VP.  In other words, a person becomes president 2 years and 1 day before the next election--they can't run. 2 years before the election and they can run.  Therefore, a presidential term if elected the maximum number of times could be anywhere between 6 and 10 years.  Generally, a president would get 8 years for two terms.

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5. 60

   Evankovachposted 12 years ago

   I guess I made the mistake of not being absolutely clear with my question.  I understand why (constitutionally speaking) President's can have two terms.  The question I was trying to ask is: is having two terms conducive to governing. I always felt this led to more politicking in the first term and more governing in the second term.  For this reason I would be a proponent of having (1) 6 year term.

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