Term limit

A term limit is a nomination rule that restricts how many times a person can run for an elected office. These rules are used to control how long an individual holds power. In presidential or semi-presidential systems, term limits serve several specific purposes. They aim to prevent a leader from becoming a "president for life." They also help check the concentration of power within the executive branch. Finally, these limits are used to curb authoritarianism, which is when a leader holds total control.

There are two main ways these rules are structured. A lifetime limit restricts the total number of terms a person can ever serve. A consecutive limit only restricts how many terms a person can serve in a row. Some leaders try to bypass these rules to stay in power. A 2020 analysis found that nearly one in four incumbents face term limits and try to circumvent them. They might use constitutional amendments to change the law. They may also work with the judiciary to reinterpret the rules. Other strategies include using a placeholder to govern or delaying elections.

To stay in power, some leaders use more aggressive methods. They may use repression of the opposition to stop rivals. They might also use electoral manipulation or seek support from foreign powers. Research from 2025 shows these attempts have become more common in African states. There were very few such attempts before the year 2000. However, many such attempts have occurred after 2000. This shows how the struggle over term limits is a changing global issue.

History shows that term limits have very old roots in Europe. Ancient Athenian democracy used them for many different officeholders. Some were limited to a single term, while council members could serve a maximum of two. In the Roman Republic, the office of censor was limited to one term. Many other annual magistrates were forbidden from reelection until several years had passed. However, the Roman dictator position was almost unrestricted. Julius Caesar eventually became a perpetual dictator, which ended the Roman republic.

During the Middle Ages, several European republics used term limits. The Novgorod Republic and the Pskov Republic used mixed governments. In Novgorod, power was shared between a prince and a posadnik, or mayor. By the mid-14th century, the posadnik office consisted of six executives elected for life. From these six, a chairman was elected for a one-year or six-month term. In Genoa, the leader known as the doge served a single two-year term from 1528 to 1798. In Florence, the executive council members were elected for only two-month terms.

The first modern constitutional term limit appeared in the French First Republic. The Constitution of 1795 established five-year terms for the French Directory. It also banned consecutive terms. Napoleon ended this practice in 1799, much like Julius Caesar did. The French Constitution of 1848 brought limits back, but Napoleon III later abolished them. In the United States, the 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951. This established a formal two-term limit for presidents. This change happened after Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to four terms.

Latin America has a complex history with these rules. Many countries modeled their systems after the United States in the 19th century. They often used a two-term precedent. However, legislative turnover in Latin America is very high. Between 1985 and 2023, the average turnover was around 70 percent. This is much higher than in Europe. In Mexico, the president serves one six-year term called a sexenio. In Argentina, the limit changed in 1994 to two consecutive four-year terms. Brazil loosened its limits in 1997 to allow two four-year terms.

Asia and Africa also show many different approaches to term limits. In South Korea, the two-term limit was restored in 1987 after several changes. In Indonesia, the 1999 amendment limited the president to two terms. China's National People's Congress abolished term limits for the president in 2018. In Sub-Saharan Africa, only 14 countries have seen a peaceful transition of power after term limits expire. In Kenya, the 2010 constitution limits the president to two five-year terms. This ensures that power moves from one leader to the next.