A Republican House Member Proposes Amending the Constitution to Allow President Trump to Serve a Third Term
A Republican House member introduced a resolution Thursday to amend the U.S. Constitution in order to allow President Donald Trump — and any other future president — to be elected to a third term in the White House.
Rep. Andy Ogles’ Proposal
Trump “has proven himself to be the only figure in modern history capable of reversing our nation’s decay and restoring America to greatness, and he must be given the time necessary to accomplish that goal,” said Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee, who proposed extending the current maximum of two elected terms.
“It is imperative that we provide President Trump with every resource necessary to correct the disastrous course set by the Biden administration,” Ogles said in a statement.
“He is dedicated to restoring the republic and saving our country, and we, as legislators and as states, must do everything in our power to support him,” said Ogles, a hardline conservative who is serving his second term in the House.
Background on the 22nd Amendment
The 22nd Amendment of the Constitution states in part, “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
Ogles’ resolution seeks to revise this to read, “‘No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times… “
The original amendment also states, “No person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.”
Trump’s Stance on the 22nd Amendment
Over the course of his political career, Trump has repeatedly hinted at his willingness to serve more than two terms in office.
“I suspect I won’t be running again, unless you say, ‘He’s so good we’ve got to figure something else out,'” Trump reportedly mused to House Republicans during a private meeting in November, shortly after his electoral victory over Democratic former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Speaking to members of the National Rifle Association in May, Trump said, ”I don’t know, are we going to be considered three-term or two-term? Are we three-term or two-term if we win?”
Other Ways to Stay in Power
Amending the Constitution is not the only way that Trump could stay in power after his current term ends.
“Though the 22nd Amendment prohibits Trump from being elected president again, it does not prohibit him from serving as president beyond Jan. 20, 2029,” wrote Philip Klinkner, a professor of government at Hamilton College, in a recent article in The Conversation.
“The reason for this is that the 22nd Amendment only prohibits someone from being ‘elected’ more than twice,” Klinker wrote. “It says nothing about someone becoming president in some other way than being elected to the office.”
Hypothetical Scenarios
Klinker wrote that one hypothetical scenario would be for Trump to run for vice president in 2028, and have Vice President JD Vance run at the top of the ticket, for president.
“If elected, Vance could then resign, making Trump president again,” Klinker wrote. “But Vance would not even have to resign in order for a Vice President Trump to exercise the power of the presidency.
The 25th Amendment to the Constitution states that if a president declares that ‘he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office … such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.’ “
Another scenario Klinker imagined is for Trump to encourage a family member to run for, and win, the White House. Once elected, they would serve as little more than a figurehead president, while Trump made the key decisions.
Conclusion
Rep. Andy Ogles’ proposal to amend the Constitution to allow President Trump to serve a third term has sparked controversy and debate. While some argue that Trump has proven himself to be a capable leader and deserves the opportunity to continue serving, others argue that the 22nd Amendment was put in place to prevent a repeat of President Franklin Roosevelt’s unprecedented election to four terms in office.
FAQs
Q: Why is Rep. Andy Ogles proposing to amend the Constitution to allow President Trump to serve a third term?
A: Ogles believes that Trump has proven himself to be a capable leader and deserves the opportunity to continue serving.
Q: What is the current maximum number of terms a president can serve?
A: The current maximum number of terms a president can serve is two, as stated in the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution.
Q: What are some hypothetical scenarios in which Trump could stay in power after his current term ends?
A: One scenario is for Trump to run for vice president in 2028 and have Vice President JD Vance run at the top of the ticket, for president. Another scenario is for Trump to encourage a family member to run for, and win, the White House, and then serve as a figurehead president while the family member makes key decisions.