Republican Congressman Andy Ogles of Tennessee has introduced a proposal to amend the 22nd Amendment of the United States Constitution. This amendment currently restricts presidents to serving only two elected terms. Ogles' proposal aims to permit presidents to be elected for a third term, provided their first two terms were nonconsecutive. Former President Donald Trump stands as the sole living president eligible under this proposed criterion. However, experts suggest the proposal faces formidable hurdles in becoming a reality.
The proposal has captured significant public attention, though its likelihood of passage remains slim. Harvard Law Professor Stephen Sachs commented on its prospects, noting its long odds for approval. The process of amending the Constitution itself is notoriously challenging. The last successful amendment, the 27th, was ratified in 1992. This amendment delayed congressional pay raises until after the next election.
For Ogles' amendment to progress, it would need to clear multiple legislative hurdles. Both the House and Senate must approve the proposal by a two-thirds majority. This translates to securing 290 affirmative votes out of 435 in the House, and 67 out of 100 in the Senate. Thereafter, three-fourths of the states must ratify the amendment, equating to approval from 38 states.
"Under Article V of the Constitution, both the House and the Senate have to approve an amendment proposal by a two-thirds vote," – Sachs
"then the proposal has to be ratified by either state legislatures or state conventions — the choice is up to Congress — in three-fourths of the states," – Sachs
Achieving bipartisan support is crucial for any constitutional amendment, yet Sachs highlighted the practical difficulties involved.
"impossibly difficult, assuming that it would receive no or very few Democratic votes, either in Congress or in the state legislatures," – Sachs
"As of today, there are only 218 Republican representatives, 53 Republican senators and 28 Republican-controlled state legislatures," – Sachs
Despite these challenges, Ogles remains committed to his proposal. He argues that Trump represents a unique figure capable of rejuvenating the nation.
"has proven himself to be the only figure in modern history capable of reversing our nation's decay and restoring America to greatness, and he must be given the time necessary to accomplish that goal," – Ogles
The White House has not yet responded to inquiries from CNBC regarding Trump's stance on Ogles' amendment. The current political landscape suggests that achieving such an amendment is an uphill battle.
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