Why can the President of the U.S. only serve for two terms?

The limitation of the President of the United States to two terms in office is fundamentally rooted in the desire to prevent the concentration of power in a single individual. This safeguard was enacted by the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1951, in response to the unprecedented four-term presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt. The framers of the amendment recognized that allowing a single person to serve for an extended period could lead to a centralization of authority and undermine democratic principles. By restricting presidential terms, the amendment aims to promote a system of checks and balances, ensuring that no one individual can dominate the political landscape for too long and thereby protecting the democratic process from potential tyranny.

While ensuring new leadership and allowing various individuals the opportunity to run for the presidency are important considerations, the primary motivation behind this two-term limit is to maintain a healthy balance of power within the government and to uphold democratic ideals.