Why was Franklin D. Roosevelt allowed to run for 4 terms in office?

Answer 1

There was an understanding that presidents did not serve more than two terms because that was what George Washington, the first president, had served. There was no law, however, so he could continue running for re-election ad infinitum. It was not a law until Congress passed the 22nd Amendment in 1951, limiting a president to two terms in office.

Answer 2

In FDR's day, there was no Constitutional amendment barring a President from taking a third term. The two-term limit on Presidency was until that time self-imposed. George Washington refused to run for a third term, though he would have easily won. His reasoning was that more than two terms would give too much power to the incumbent, and subsequent presidents followed suit.

FDR's decision to run for a third term was widely criticized. In 1944 he was able to win an unprecedented fourth term in despite failing health, primarily because the country didn't want to elect a new chief executive while the country was deeply at war.

Following Roosevelt's death, a constitutional change was proposed that would prevent anyone from being elected to the presidency more than twice. It was passed by Congress in 1947 and ratified by two-thirds of the states in 1951, becoming the 22nd amendment to the Constitution.

Answer 3

The 22nd amendment didn't pass until after his death. His term of 12 years showed a failing of the term of office for the Presidency and to prevent another person from serving that long or longer the amendment was written/passed.

Answer 4

There was no amendment prohibiting holding office for more than two terms. In addition, through tremendous popularity, most people didn't mind him taking unprecedented power.

Answer 5

At the time, there was no official limit on terms for President, which is why he was able to win four elections. A few years later, the 22nd Amendment passed and set the limit to two terms.