Elections
Most presidents run for president through the electoral process. The Constitution guarantees a four year term once in office, but the Twenty-second Amendment limits presidents to being elected to only two terms.
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Succession and Impeachment
For more than 10% of American history, and individual who was not elected to the office has served as president. About one in five presidents got the job because they were vice president when the incumbent president either died or resigned. The Twenty-fifth Amendment created a means for selecting a new vice president. Removing a discredited president before the end of a term is called impeachment and is not easy. Other laws specify the order of presidential succession, from the vice president, to the Speaker of the House, to the president pro tempore of the Senate and down through the cabinet members.
History Lesson Richard Nixon would have been impeached due to the Watergate Scandal had he not resigned before the vote. |