Amendments Altering the Presidency

12th Amendment

Changed the way the Electoral College chooses the President and Vice President

22nd Amendment; Section 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 which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once.

20th Amendment; Section 3

If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President-elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President.

25th Amendment

It came into being to clarify what happens upon the death, removal, or registration of the President or Vice President. It also deals with how the office of President is to be filled if the President becomes incapacitated and cannot fulfill his or her responsibilities.

22nd Amendment

It did not seem healthy for a democracy to be led by the same individual for decades at a time. Republicans in Congress supported the passage of the 22nd Amendment, which would limit Presidents to two full terms in office.

"Lame Duck" Presidenet

Refers to a President who has lost reelection, decided not to run for reelection, or exhausted his or her limits.

Article II

Set four-year term for President and Vice President. When the Constitution was first written, time was needed for newly elected members to settle their affairs before traveling to Washington to join Congress. Also, it could take months before the results of an election might be known.

20th Amendment

Set the dates for the beginning and ending of terms served by federal officials By moving the beginning of the President's new term to January 20, supporters of the 20th Amendment sought to put an end to a "lame duck" President.

Electoral College

The founding fathers established it in the Constitution as a compromise between election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens.

23rd Amendment

Was ratified in 1961; It treated the District of Columbia as if it were a state for purposes voting in the Electoral College.