The Twenty-Second Amendment, ratified February 27, 1951, prohibits anyone from being elected president more than twice, or more than once if they served over two years of someone else''s term. Franklin Roosevelt broke George Washington''s two-term tradition by winning four elections, with his third-term victory on November 5, 1940, coming as World War II approached. After Republicans took Congress in the 1946 midterm elections, the House proposed term limits in Joint Resolution 27. Congress sent the amendment to states on March 21, 1947, and ratification took less than four years. A grandfather clause exempted Harry Truman, the sitting president, allowing him to run in 1952 though he declined. Every president since ratification has served no more than two elected terms. Critics argue the amendment weakens second-term presidents by making them lame ducks, while supporters contend it prevents power consolidation and ensures democratic turnover. The amendment applies only to election, not succession, meaning a vice president could theoretically serve up to ten years by succeeding to office mid-term then winning two elections.