embarrassing question, but.....

[Anonymous]

How many terms can a president serve? I know that you can't serve more than 2 consecutive terms. Can Bill Clinton serve another term at some point? I go to DCUM for answers to all my important questions.

[jsteele]

Presidents are limited to two terms regardless of whether they are consecutive. Clinton cannot serve another term, but George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter can.

Also, if a president serves at least two years of another president's term, he can only serve one additional term.

[Anonymous]

Yes this came about after FDR was elected to four terms. He died shortly after the fourth started.

[Anonymous]

The longest a president can serve is 10 years. That would include two years filling out a predecessor's term and then two elected terms of 4 years each.

The only way for Bill Clinton to run the country again would be for Hillary to win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The longest a president can serve is 10 years. That would include two years filling out a predecessor's term and then two elected terms of 4 years each.

The only way for Bill Clinton to run the country again would be for Hillary to win.[/quote]

why?

b/c you don't think a woman is capable? Or do you just have it out for Hillary?

[jsteele]

There may be a loophole that can be used to get around the limit. The 22 Amendment talks entirely about the limit on being "elected" to the office of President. It doesn't say anything about other means of becoming president. So, if Bill Clinton were to become Vice President and the Presidency were vacated, he could probably become president again. For instance, if Biden quite today, Obama could nominate Bill Clinton. Both Houses of Congress would have to approve and that might be a problem in the House, but assume they go along. Then, if Obama resigned or could not continue in office for other reasons, Clinton would become president.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The longest a president can serve is 10 years. That would include two years filling out a predecessor's term and then two elected terms of 4 years each.

The only way for Bill Clinton to run the country again would be for Hillary to win.[/quote]

why?

b/c you don't think a woman is capable? Or do you just have it out for Hillary?

Because I was making a joke. Unclench.

[Anonymous]

OP, no need to be embarrassed, you were at least asking a reasonable question, and not writing about Romney's looks, Obama's odor, or the opinions of Levi Johnston's baby mama.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:There may be a loophole that can be used to get around the limit. The 22 Amendment talks entirely about the limit on being "elected" to the office of President. It doesn't say anything about other means of becoming president. So, if Bill Clinton were to become Vice President and the Presidency were vacated, he could probably become president again. For instance, if Biden quite today, Obama could nominate Bill Clinton. Both Houses of Congress would have to approve and that might be a problem in the House, but assume they go along. Then, if Obama resigned or could not continue in office for other reasons, Clinton would become president.

12th Amendment states that you have to be eligible for President in order to be eligible for Vice President.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:There may be a loophole that can be used to get around the limit. The 22 Amendment talks entirely about the limit on being "elected" to the office of President. It doesn't say anything about other means of becoming president. So, if Bill Clinton were to become Vice President and the Presidency were vacated, he could probably become president again. For instance, if Biden quite today, Obama could nominate Bill Clinton. Both Houses of Congress would have to approve and that might be a problem in the House, but assume they go along. Then, if Obama resigned or could not continue in office for other reasons, Clinton would become president.

12th Amendment states that you have to be eligible for President in order to be eligible for Vice President.

22nd says Clinton cannot run for President, but SCOTUS might have to determine whether that kicks in the 12th and makes him ineligible to run for VP. Clearly the 22nd was not in the minds of those who wrote the 12th, so it's hard to argue intent. Like the issue of natural born, there is no clear definition of terms.