Length of a US Presidential Term
A US presidential term lasts four years. The president takes office on January 20 following the election and serves until the end of that four-year period.
Term Limits and Reelection
A president may be elected to the office twice, serving a maximum of eight years in office. The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, established this limit. Exceptions apply if a vice president succeeds a president and serves less than two years of that term, allowing them to run for two full terms.
How the Term Affects Policy and Elections
The four-year term shapes the president's agenda, legislative priorities, and reelection strategy. Learn more about the structure of US presidential elections and terms at National Archives.
