<P> Although the Twenty - second Amendment was clearly a reaction to Franklin D. Roosevelt 's service as President for an unprecedented four terms , the notion of presidential term limits has long - standing roots in American politics . The Constitutional Convention of 1787 considered the issue extensively , although it ultimately declined to restrict the amount of time a person could serve as president . But following George Washington 's decision to retire after his second elected term , numerous public figures subsequently argued he had established a `` two - term tradition '' that served as a vital check against any one person , or the presidency as a whole , accumulating too much power . </P>
<P> Although the Twenty - second Amendment was clearly a reaction to Franklin D. Roosevelt 's service as President for an unprecedented four terms , the notion of presidential term limits has long - standing roots in American politics . The Constitutional Convention of 1787 considered the issue extensively , although it ultimately declined to restrict the amount of time a person could serve as president . But following George Washington 's decision to retire after his second elected term , numerous public figures subsequently argued he had established a `` two - term tradition '' that served as a vital check against any one person , or the presidency as a whole , accumulating too much power . </P>
why is there a 2 term limit for presidents
why is there a 2 term limit for presidents
accumulating too much power
accumulating too much power