Why is it that only the President has 2 term limit, and Judges and Legislators can hold office for ever?
355362
Actually, the 22nd Amendment (which limits presidents to two full terms in office) had little to do with senility or political concerns, and more for the concern that America would end up with a "benevolent dictator" who would wield great power that he or she gathered over time.
766750
The powers of the Executive and Judicial have increased over time while the legislative has given up some of it's power.\n\nThe president is head of the national bureacracy and all federal agencies.  Through these agencies he can exercise a lot of power.  For example he determines who runs the FBI and what their priorities should be.  Also another example is the USDA and FDA that determines levels of pesticides that can be used and the general safety of food and medicine.  The president uses the power of Executive Order to do many things including going to war even though that should be a congressional decision.  Through the years presidents have written more and more executive orders breaking the records of previous presidents.  Look up executive order on wikipedia.\n\nThe judicial branch gained a great deal of power when they established that under the constitution they have the right to judicial review.  The judicial branch can create new law by interpreting how a different set of laws come together to create a new law.  For example, the right to privacy is not on the constitution or any federal law.  Privacy was determined by judicial review  to exist based loosely on the 4th and 5th amendments and some previous case law.\n\nChecks and balances works only if all the branches do their job in good faith.  If they are all part of the same political party and just do everything their party leaders tell them to it doesn't work anymore.  This is was the case the past six years that the president's party dominated both houses of congress and the judiciary (very anti-democratic).\n\nChecks and balances is supposed to work because powers are distributed to the different branches.  Judiciary can review a law and deem it unconstitutional and throw it out of the books.  The legislative has the power to change the constitution and holds the money and distributes it to everyone.  The executive runs the country, the bureacracy, and heads the military and can propose law, but can't make it and can't override congress.\n\nCongress is by far the most important and powerful branch because it can make law, change the constitution, and override any other branch of the government as long as it has a 2/3 majority in both houses.\n\nHope this helps.
795550
It could be possible. The Consitution says the President can only be ELECTED to no more than 2 terms. \n\nIf the current President served as Vice President and due to an illness, death, or some other situation where the previous President could no longer function, than the Vice President would become President.\n\nOnly Franklin Delanore Roosevelt served more than 2 terms. He was elected for 4 terms and served 3 full terms and a few months of the 4th term. \n\nThe consitution was admended after his death to limit a President to only 2 terms.
218012
Actually, anyone can run for president, given the meet the criteria set forth in the constitution. However, governors are usually the chioce because the are dealing with a similar government structure, but on a smaller scale. They are responsible for managing the same types of affairs, whereas senators are merely the public's voice in the legislative brance of democratic goverments
963861
Greg's answer is a good one. :) \n\nI would also add that since judges are put into place by the president and the legislature, they are (unlike politicians) not beholden to special interest groups or lobbyists, and they are not dependant on the people for their job. Because they are free of restrictions, they can uphold the constitution and rule of law without worrying for the safety of their jobs. This helps to further assure "liberty and justice for all". \n\nBTW, the president and legislature only put into place SUPREME COURT justices... Lower courts ARE sometimes elected by the people, depending on the state in which you live.
95709
If it within the confines of existing law I don't have a problem with it. I'm one who believes that president doesn't not have a lot of power. The constitution limited the presidents powers inorder to keep the government in the hands of the people thru it's elected representives. Additionally, the Commander In Chief status(Article II) placed on the president was meant to keep military generals or other officers from taking over the country like we seen happen so many times in other countries ie Cuba, and many African nations.
451392
Simply, we have a constitution that states we have a president.  It is possible to change it, but understand that throughout the world, we have one of the most stable elected government.  We have two choices because we have two major political parties.  There has been other parties with different platforms, but those platforms were absorbed by the major parties.  Having too many parties is not good.  Just like having too many choices.
430689
Because he came before the law limiting Presidents to two terms.  Up until that point, it was just an unofficial rule, accepted because Washington served two terms.  Since he was elected to four terms, his opposing party made the law as soon as they had control of congress.
1164872
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected four\ntimes in a row, because he was an outstanding President. He died during his fourth term having complications from Polio.\n\nIt was later, that a Constitutional Ammendment was added, which restricted a President to serve no more than two terms.
847423
FDR did NOT pass such a law.  As a result of FDR breaking the tradition set by George Washington of not running for a 3rd term, The 22nd amendment to the Constitution was passed.  It states that 'No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.'  The only provision that MAY prevent such a person from being elected Vice President is the 12th amendment.  The last sentence of which reads 'But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.  It is interesting to note that while the 22nd amendment prevents a person from being ELECTED to the office of President more than twice, the Constitution does not specifically prohibit a person from Serving as President more that twice.
567668
It depends on the office.  President is four year term.  Senator is six year term.  Representative is for two year term.  Locally, most governor are for four year term.  Contact the local government for more information on you local terms.
2936
In the federal government, only the president is subject to term limits.  As for state and other goverments, it would depend on the state.  Some impose limits, some do not.
333142
Not even close - for a start, how can 2 parties represent the views of all the people in one of the largest countries in the world?  Especially when the head of state is not elected directly by the people, but by an Electoral College.  It seems absurd that a President can come to power who, when the actual votes of the people are counted, didn't win?  Surely those are the votes that count?  You have one of the most culturally diverse populations on the planet, and yet your Parliament, Government and Judiciary are predominantly white, middle class, wealthy and male.  That doesn't sound very democratic to me.
227445
Amendment XXII \n(Ratified in 1951.) \n\nSection 1. 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. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term. \n\nSection 2. This Article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress\n\nIt was FDR broke with tradition
88742
Bush can not be re-elected President because he has already served his two terms... and no one can serve as President for more than 10 years. (the president can not serve a 3rd term because of the 22nd Amendment) \n\n\nTo answer the reworded question... my guess is they see it refers to Bush or the current government and just need to make sure they get a JAB in.
1162016
That's a good question, and there has been debate over whether to require term limits for Congress.  The President didn't used to have term limits until after FDR.  In favor of no term limits, experience is very useful and congressmen can be ousted during election periods. On the other hand, it's easier for an incumbent to win.  The President has A LOT more power in a single person than a single congressman does, and that's probably the main reason the Presidency was given term limits already and Congress was not.
808622
Uh, no- Bush was elected for his second 4 year term.  Bush will be forced out of office by law in 2 more years.  A person can only be president 2 times, then they're banned for life by federal law