Limits on presidential elections
Limits a person to two presidential elections, or one after serving more than two years of someone else's elected term.
In Simple, Modern English
Section 1 says no person may be elected president more than twice. Someone who held or acted in the presidency for more than two years of another person's elected term may be elected only once. It exempted the president serving when Congress proposed it and protected completion of the term underway when it took effect.
Section 2 required ratification within seven years.
Important Clauses & Details
Two elections
The ordinary limit is being elected president twice. The text is framed around elections, not a simple flat eight-year rule.
Partial-term rule
Serving more than two years of someone else's elected term reduces the number of permitted elections to one. Serving two years or less can allow two later elections.
Transition and deadline
The incumbent when it was proposed was exempted, and a president or acting president could finish the current term. Ratification required approval within seven years.
Why It Was Added
George Washington's two-term example became a tradition, but Franklin Roosevelt was elected four times. After Roosevelt, Congress proposed a constitutional election limit to prevent prolonged concentration of presidential power.
Exactly two years is not more than two years. A person can serve as much as ten years under the ordinary partial-term scenario, so eight years is an incomplete summary.
Plain-English study paraphrases summarize the text; they are not verbatim translations. Historical provisions and later changes are identified above. Sources: National Archives and Constitution Annotated.