“No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” These are the words of the 22nd amendment of the United States Constitution. However, President Trump has publicly stated that he “is not joking” about serving a third term in office. 

While Franklin D. Roosevelt did serve four terms in office between 1933 and 1945, this was prior to the ratification of the 22nd amendment in 1955, which was introduced because of Roosevelt’s four term presidency. 

In an attempt to enable President Trump to run for a third term in office, Representative Andrew Ogles proposed a joint resolution to amend the constitution. 

There are others who suggest that the law outlined in the 22nd amendment only applies to presidents who serve two consecutive terms. However, there is no legitimacy to this claim.

Some Republicans have voiced their support for a three term Trump Presidency. However, a poll by Reuters found that the majority of Republicans do not believe Trump should attempt a third term in office.   

President Trump still has over three years left in office and has not made any official plans to serve for another term. In the meantime, Americans must continue to uphold the constitution and democracy. 

The Founding Fathers of America knew that times would change and amendments would be necessary, this is one of the reasons America’s democracy has been successful. Despite the ability to change the constitution, citizens of the United States must remember that having the power to do something is not the same as needing to do it.