Is there a way for presidents to legally extend their terms beyond the maximum of four years?Proper use of the word 'term' for U.S. Presidents, andWhy is the Supreme Court not balanced in terms of their political views?Can the current President of the United States block the transfer of their office to the next elected president?Has the way Unemployment is measured changed in the last 8 years?Is there any evidence that different length terms-of-office would be more effective for a President w.r.t. global policy?Is there a way the US president could extend his immunity in the future?Is there a legal way that can be used to force the President of United States undergo a mental health examination?Is there a tendency for presidents to come from outside of “big politics” in recent years?Is there a maximum period for declassification of information in US?Does a (US) presidential proclamation have a time limit?

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Is there a way for presidents to legally extend their terms beyond the maximum of four years?


Proper use of the word 'term' for U.S. Presidents, andWhy is the Supreme Court not balanced in terms of their political views?Can the current President of the United States block the transfer of their office to the next elected president?Has the way Unemployment is measured changed in the last 8 years?Is there any evidence that different length terms-of-office would be more effective for a President w.r.t. global policy?Is there a way the US president could extend his immunity in the future?Is there a legal way that can be used to force the President of United States undergo a mental health examination?Is there a tendency for presidents to come from outside of “big politics” in recent years?Is there a maximum period for declassification of information in US?Does a (US) presidential proclamation have a time limit?






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5















If I remember correctly in one Episode of Stargate SG-1, the president of the United States declares some state of national emergency (world was attacked by aliens) and was able to suspend elections, weaseling around the 22nd Amendment and being able to stay in office indefinitely by keeping up the emergency state.



Is it actually possible for the president stay in office longer than the usual four years or even forever, by using some (basically) legal tricks?










share|improve this question









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Takiro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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    5















    If I remember correctly in one Episode of Stargate SG-1, the president of the United States declares some state of national emergency (world was attacked by aliens) and was able to suspend elections, weaseling around the 22nd Amendment and being able to stay in office indefinitely by keeping up the emergency state.



    Is it actually possible for the president stay in office longer than the usual four years or even forever, by using some (basically) legal tricks?










    share|improve this question









    New contributor



    Takiro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.





















      5












      5








      5








      If I remember correctly in one Episode of Stargate SG-1, the president of the United States declares some state of national emergency (world was attacked by aliens) and was able to suspend elections, weaseling around the 22nd Amendment and being able to stay in office indefinitely by keeping up the emergency state.



      Is it actually possible for the president stay in office longer than the usual four years or even forever, by using some (basically) legal tricks?










      share|improve this question









      New contributor



      Takiro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.











      If I remember correctly in one Episode of Stargate SG-1, the president of the United States declares some state of national emergency (world was attacked by aliens) and was able to suspend elections, weaseling around the 22nd Amendment and being able to stay in office indefinitely by keeping up the emergency state.



      Is it actually possible for the president stay in office longer than the usual four years or even forever, by using some (basically) legal tricks?







      united-states president presidential-term






      share|improve this question









      New contributor



      Takiro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.










      share|improve this question









      New contributor



      Takiro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.








      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 2 hours ago









      Brythan

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      New contributor



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      Check out our Code of Conduct.








      asked 8 hours ago









      TakiroTakiro

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          2 Answers
          2






          active

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          7














          The short answer is no. The longer answer is that this framing isn't particularly helpful.



          There are a number of overlapping factors that prevent the president from legally suspending elections like some tinpot dictator. In particular Article II Section I of the Constitution and the 12th, 20th, 22nd, and 25th amendments which combine to define presidential elections and succession.



          Terms ending are not directly linked to elections being held. Even if elections could not be held for some catastrophic reason, the president should still leave office at the end of their term according to the line of succession (if no elections occurred at all many of their terms will have ended at the same time, but there should be a President Pro Tempore of the Senate because Senate terms are staggered). This is all theoretical since it's never been tested and hopefully never will be.



          Perhaps an even more boring reason why the president cannot simply suspend presidential elections is that the federal government does not run elections. The state governments do. A state government may have the ability to suspend or reschedule an election, and there are rules in place for if a state fails to make a selection on the prescribed day. If they still haven't named electors in time for the meeting of the Electoral College, that state will simply not cast any votes.



          The only legal way around any of this would be modifying the Constitution. Because of course you can make anything 'legal' if you change the definition of what 'legal' means.



          At the end of the day though, the real world isn't a game. Even if you could find some obscure and bizarre legal loophole to override precedent, the law isn't a set of magic rules. Its just rules that we made up. Nobody would have to accept it. A democratic government governs with the consent of the people. Attempting to use force to subvert the will of the people would be how a president becomes a dictator.






          share|improve this answer




















          • 1





            +lots for "the law isn't a set of magic rules". This simple fact is often overlooked.

            – James K
            4 hours ago











          • "the law isn't a set of magic rules" - also why the peaceful transition of power is not guaranteed, though it's happened many times over. If a President didn't want to leave and they had the support of the military, it would be tough to do much about it.

            – David Rice
            3 hours ago


















          4














          The Constitution sets a presidential term at 4 years, and the 22nd amendment pretty firmly sets a two-term maximum:




          No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and 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...




          Since this was a Constitutional amendment, there is no legal way to extend a presidential term after 8 years (or technically 10 if you were a VP-turned-Pres mid-term) without passing a new amendment to allow it. This applies even if elections themselves are suspended for an emergency - the president's term is up when it's up, regardless of whether there's anyone else to take up the office.



          Whether or not there's a illegal but effective way to stay president after two terms would be pure speculation.






          share|improve this answer

























          • There is a legal way: convince the congress and at least 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

            – phoog
            6 hours ago











          • @phoog Fair point. I added that qualifier.

            – Bobson
            6 hours ago













          Your Answer








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          2 Answers
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          active

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          2 Answers
          2






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          active

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          active

          oldest

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          7














          The short answer is no. The longer answer is that this framing isn't particularly helpful.



          There are a number of overlapping factors that prevent the president from legally suspending elections like some tinpot dictator. In particular Article II Section I of the Constitution and the 12th, 20th, 22nd, and 25th amendments which combine to define presidential elections and succession.



          Terms ending are not directly linked to elections being held. Even if elections could not be held for some catastrophic reason, the president should still leave office at the end of their term according to the line of succession (if no elections occurred at all many of their terms will have ended at the same time, but there should be a President Pro Tempore of the Senate because Senate terms are staggered). This is all theoretical since it's never been tested and hopefully never will be.



          Perhaps an even more boring reason why the president cannot simply suspend presidential elections is that the federal government does not run elections. The state governments do. A state government may have the ability to suspend or reschedule an election, and there are rules in place for if a state fails to make a selection on the prescribed day. If they still haven't named electors in time for the meeting of the Electoral College, that state will simply not cast any votes.



          The only legal way around any of this would be modifying the Constitution. Because of course you can make anything 'legal' if you change the definition of what 'legal' means.



          At the end of the day though, the real world isn't a game. Even if you could find some obscure and bizarre legal loophole to override precedent, the law isn't a set of magic rules. Its just rules that we made up. Nobody would have to accept it. A democratic government governs with the consent of the people. Attempting to use force to subvert the will of the people would be how a president becomes a dictator.






          share|improve this answer




















          • 1





            +lots for "the law isn't a set of magic rules". This simple fact is often overlooked.

            – James K
            4 hours ago











          • "the law isn't a set of magic rules" - also why the peaceful transition of power is not guaranteed, though it's happened many times over. If a President didn't want to leave and they had the support of the military, it would be tough to do much about it.

            – David Rice
            3 hours ago















          7














          The short answer is no. The longer answer is that this framing isn't particularly helpful.



          There are a number of overlapping factors that prevent the president from legally suspending elections like some tinpot dictator. In particular Article II Section I of the Constitution and the 12th, 20th, 22nd, and 25th amendments which combine to define presidential elections and succession.



          Terms ending are not directly linked to elections being held. Even if elections could not be held for some catastrophic reason, the president should still leave office at the end of their term according to the line of succession (if no elections occurred at all many of their terms will have ended at the same time, but there should be a President Pro Tempore of the Senate because Senate terms are staggered). This is all theoretical since it's never been tested and hopefully never will be.



          Perhaps an even more boring reason why the president cannot simply suspend presidential elections is that the federal government does not run elections. The state governments do. A state government may have the ability to suspend or reschedule an election, and there are rules in place for if a state fails to make a selection on the prescribed day. If they still haven't named electors in time for the meeting of the Electoral College, that state will simply not cast any votes.



          The only legal way around any of this would be modifying the Constitution. Because of course you can make anything 'legal' if you change the definition of what 'legal' means.



          At the end of the day though, the real world isn't a game. Even if you could find some obscure and bizarre legal loophole to override precedent, the law isn't a set of magic rules. Its just rules that we made up. Nobody would have to accept it. A democratic government governs with the consent of the people. Attempting to use force to subvert the will of the people would be how a president becomes a dictator.






          share|improve this answer




















          • 1





            +lots for "the law isn't a set of magic rules". This simple fact is often overlooked.

            – James K
            4 hours ago











          • "the law isn't a set of magic rules" - also why the peaceful transition of power is not guaranteed, though it's happened many times over. If a President didn't want to leave and they had the support of the military, it would be tough to do much about it.

            – David Rice
            3 hours ago













          7












          7








          7







          The short answer is no. The longer answer is that this framing isn't particularly helpful.



          There are a number of overlapping factors that prevent the president from legally suspending elections like some tinpot dictator. In particular Article II Section I of the Constitution and the 12th, 20th, 22nd, and 25th amendments which combine to define presidential elections and succession.



          Terms ending are not directly linked to elections being held. Even if elections could not be held for some catastrophic reason, the president should still leave office at the end of their term according to the line of succession (if no elections occurred at all many of their terms will have ended at the same time, but there should be a President Pro Tempore of the Senate because Senate terms are staggered). This is all theoretical since it's never been tested and hopefully never will be.



          Perhaps an even more boring reason why the president cannot simply suspend presidential elections is that the federal government does not run elections. The state governments do. A state government may have the ability to suspend or reschedule an election, and there are rules in place for if a state fails to make a selection on the prescribed day. If they still haven't named electors in time for the meeting of the Electoral College, that state will simply not cast any votes.



          The only legal way around any of this would be modifying the Constitution. Because of course you can make anything 'legal' if you change the definition of what 'legal' means.



          At the end of the day though, the real world isn't a game. Even if you could find some obscure and bizarre legal loophole to override precedent, the law isn't a set of magic rules. Its just rules that we made up. Nobody would have to accept it. A democratic government governs with the consent of the people. Attempting to use force to subvert the will of the people would be how a president becomes a dictator.






          share|improve this answer















          The short answer is no. The longer answer is that this framing isn't particularly helpful.



          There are a number of overlapping factors that prevent the president from legally suspending elections like some tinpot dictator. In particular Article II Section I of the Constitution and the 12th, 20th, 22nd, and 25th amendments which combine to define presidential elections and succession.



          Terms ending are not directly linked to elections being held. Even if elections could not be held for some catastrophic reason, the president should still leave office at the end of their term according to the line of succession (if no elections occurred at all many of their terms will have ended at the same time, but there should be a President Pro Tempore of the Senate because Senate terms are staggered). This is all theoretical since it's never been tested and hopefully never will be.



          Perhaps an even more boring reason why the president cannot simply suspend presidential elections is that the federal government does not run elections. The state governments do. A state government may have the ability to suspend or reschedule an election, and there are rules in place for if a state fails to make a selection on the prescribed day. If they still haven't named electors in time for the meeting of the Electoral College, that state will simply not cast any votes.



          The only legal way around any of this would be modifying the Constitution. Because of course you can make anything 'legal' if you change the definition of what 'legal' means.



          At the end of the day though, the real world isn't a game. Even if you could find some obscure and bizarre legal loophole to override precedent, the law isn't a set of magic rules. Its just rules that we made up. Nobody would have to accept it. A democratic government governs with the consent of the people. Attempting to use force to subvert the will of the people would be how a president becomes a dictator.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited 3 hours ago









          Brythan

          75.2k8 gold badges163 silver badges256 bronze badges




          75.2k8 gold badges163 silver badges256 bronze badges










          answered 5 hours ago









          TalTal

          6324 silver badges8 bronze badges




          6324 silver badges8 bronze badges







          • 1





            +lots for "the law isn't a set of magic rules". This simple fact is often overlooked.

            – James K
            4 hours ago











          • "the law isn't a set of magic rules" - also why the peaceful transition of power is not guaranteed, though it's happened many times over. If a President didn't want to leave and they had the support of the military, it would be tough to do much about it.

            – David Rice
            3 hours ago












          • 1





            +lots for "the law isn't a set of magic rules". This simple fact is often overlooked.

            – James K
            4 hours ago











          • "the law isn't a set of magic rules" - also why the peaceful transition of power is not guaranteed, though it's happened many times over. If a President didn't want to leave and they had the support of the military, it would be tough to do much about it.

            – David Rice
            3 hours ago







          1




          1





          +lots for "the law isn't a set of magic rules". This simple fact is often overlooked.

          – James K
          4 hours ago





          +lots for "the law isn't a set of magic rules". This simple fact is often overlooked.

          – James K
          4 hours ago













          "the law isn't a set of magic rules" - also why the peaceful transition of power is not guaranteed, though it's happened many times over. If a President didn't want to leave and they had the support of the military, it would be tough to do much about it.

          – David Rice
          3 hours ago





          "the law isn't a set of magic rules" - also why the peaceful transition of power is not guaranteed, though it's happened many times over. If a President didn't want to leave and they had the support of the military, it would be tough to do much about it.

          – David Rice
          3 hours ago













          4














          The Constitution sets a presidential term at 4 years, and the 22nd amendment pretty firmly sets a two-term maximum:




          No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and 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...




          Since this was a Constitutional amendment, there is no legal way to extend a presidential term after 8 years (or technically 10 if you were a VP-turned-Pres mid-term) without passing a new amendment to allow it. This applies even if elections themselves are suspended for an emergency - the president's term is up when it's up, regardless of whether there's anyone else to take up the office.



          Whether or not there's a illegal but effective way to stay president after two terms would be pure speculation.






          share|improve this answer

























          • There is a legal way: convince the congress and at least 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

            – phoog
            6 hours ago











          • @phoog Fair point. I added that qualifier.

            – Bobson
            6 hours ago















          4














          The Constitution sets a presidential term at 4 years, and the 22nd amendment pretty firmly sets a two-term maximum:




          No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and 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...




          Since this was a Constitutional amendment, there is no legal way to extend a presidential term after 8 years (or technically 10 if you were a VP-turned-Pres mid-term) without passing a new amendment to allow it. This applies even if elections themselves are suspended for an emergency - the president's term is up when it's up, regardless of whether there's anyone else to take up the office.



          Whether or not there's a illegal but effective way to stay president after two terms would be pure speculation.






          share|improve this answer

























          • There is a legal way: convince the congress and at least 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

            – phoog
            6 hours ago











          • @phoog Fair point. I added that qualifier.

            – Bobson
            6 hours ago













          4












          4








          4







          The Constitution sets a presidential term at 4 years, and the 22nd amendment pretty firmly sets a two-term maximum:




          No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and 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...




          Since this was a Constitutional amendment, there is no legal way to extend a presidential term after 8 years (or technically 10 if you were a VP-turned-Pres mid-term) without passing a new amendment to allow it. This applies even if elections themselves are suspended for an emergency - the president's term is up when it's up, regardless of whether there's anyone else to take up the office.



          Whether or not there's a illegal but effective way to stay president after two terms would be pure speculation.






          share|improve this answer















          The Constitution sets a presidential term at 4 years, and the 22nd amendment pretty firmly sets a two-term maximum:




          No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and 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...




          Since this was a Constitutional amendment, there is no legal way to extend a presidential term after 8 years (or technically 10 if you were a VP-turned-Pres mid-term) without passing a new amendment to allow it. This applies even if elections themselves are suspended for an emergency - the president's term is up when it's up, regardless of whether there's anyone else to take up the office.



          Whether or not there's a illegal but effective way to stay president after two terms would be pure speculation.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited 3 hours ago









          Brythan

          75.2k8 gold badges163 silver badges256 bronze badges




          75.2k8 gold badges163 silver badges256 bronze badges










          answered 6 hours ago









          BobsonBobson

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          • There is a legal way: convince the congress and at least 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

            – phoog
            6 hours ago











          • @phoog Fair point. I added that qualifier.

            – Bobson
            6 hours ago

















          • There is a legal way: convince the congress and at least 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

            – phoog
            6 hours ago











          • @phoog Fair point. I added that qualifier.

            – Bobson
            6 hours ago
















          There is a legal way: convince the congress and at least 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

          – phoog
          6 hours ago





          There is a legal way: convince the congress and at least 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

          – phoog
          6 hours ago













          @phoog Fair point. I added that qualifier.

          – Bobson
          6 hours ago





          @phoog Fair point. I added that qualifier.

          – Bobson
          6 hours ago










          Takiro is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.









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