Final answer:
The 22nd Amendment, enacted in 1951, limited U.S. presidents to two terms in office. It was a direct response to FDR's four-term presidency and aimed to restrain presidential power while ensuring a regular change in leadership.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed in the aftermath of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's (FDR) unprecedented election to four terms as president. Prior to this amendment, there was no limit on the number of terms a president could serve.
Following FDR's fourth term and his death in office, there was a shift in political power leading to the proposal and passing of this amendment in 1951, which limited a president to serving only two terms. Presidents like Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, each served eight years, but due to the restrictions of the 22nd Amendment, became "lame ducks" after their reelection as attention shifted to their potential successors.
FDR's ability to be elected four times, mainly during the challenges of the Great Depression and World War II, greatly expanded presidential power and cast a shadow over Congress. In response, Congress proposed the amendment to limit the presidency's tenure to two full terms, aiming to restrain presidential power. This amendment ensures that no person can be elected to the presidency more than twice, and addresses other complexities related to serving partial terms.
In subsequent years, there have been discussions and attempts to repeal the 22nd Amendment by various congressmen, but none of these resolutions have passed out of committee. The ongoing debates show the continuing relevance of term limits in discussions about the balance of power within the U.S. government.