In addition to amendments proposing to increase the term to six years, two proposals were made to extend the present period to any other term of years. In 1831, Representative Tucker proposed a term of five years and in 1888 Representative Hudd proposed a term of eight years. Only one proposal was introduced during these years designed to reduce the length of term as fixed by the Constitution. This was an amendment sponsored by Senator Hillhouse in 1808 for a term of one year. A large number of the amendments did not propose to change the term of the President, but to limit the number of terms the same person could be elected President. From 1889 to 1926, 85 proposals to restrict the President's incumbency to one term, prohibiting a longer tenure than two terms, and restricting the President to one term but lengthening the term were introduced. Nine resolutions were introduced providing for a single term of four years: four in 1894 and five in 1889, 1893, 1908, 1909 and 1912. A total of 63 resolutions were introduced calling for a six year term. On February 1, 1913, one of the proposals, S.J. Res. 78 was passed in the Senate by a vote of 47 yeas to 23 nays.' The debate on the resolution began on March 11, 1912 and continued to February 1, 1913 through the election of 1912. The question arose as to whether President Taft and ex-President Roosevelt should be exempted from the provisions of the amendment should it take effect. On January 30, 1913 Senator Clarke introduced an amendment to S.J. Res. 78 excluding Taft and Roosevelt from the provisions. The amendment subsequently was defeated in fear that an exemption might allow the two men to occupy office for as long as thirteen and ten years respectively. Other amendments making the term a single one of four years, to include a provision for the direct vote of the President and to make two terms of four years each the limit were defeated. In the two year period of 1892-93 and 1912-13 an unusual number of amendments were introduced pertaining to the number of terms that a President could serve. At this time of course there was no provision in the Constitution as to the number of terms the same person could be elected President. The number of amendments introduced suggests the controversy of an ex-President running for election after an absence of four years from office and another ex-President seeking a third term also after an intervening term of absence. During 1892 and 1893, fourteen amendments were submitted, seven providing for a six-year term with no eligibility to a second term, four providing a President could not succeed himself in office, two making two consecutive terms of office the limit, and one providing one term as the limit. During 1912 and 1913 twenty-two bills were offered, fifteen providing for six year terms with ineligibility for a second term, three prohibiting a third term, two providing for a single seven year term, and one prohibiting any more than two consecutive terms in office. From 1926 through 1963 a total of forty-three proposed amendments calling for a six year Presidential term were introduced. During this same time period three proposals were sponsored limiting the President to one four year term, thirty-four proposals limiting the President to two terms, and one providing for a term of eight years. Hearings were held during the 76th Congress on S.J. Res. 15 and during the 79th Congress on S.J. Res. 21, both bills providing for a six year term for the President. From 1963 to 1971, one proposed amendment was introduced by Senator Mansfield as S.J. Res. 178 on June 17, 1968 in the Second Session of the 90th Congress. Four resolutions were introduced calling for a three-year term: H.J. 630, introduced by Tenzer August 17, 1965 in the First Session of the 89th Congress; H.J. Res. 909, introduced by Smith (New York), on March 17, 1966 in the Second Session of the 89th Congress. H.J. Res. 526, introduced by Rosenthal March 6, 1969 in the First Session of the 91st Congress; and H.J. Res. 838, introduced by Smith July 24, 1969 in the First Session of the 91st Congress. One proposal in 1970 providing for a tenure of office for no more than eight consecutive years was introduced August 13 as H.J. Res. 1354 by MacGregor. During the time, hearings were held on H.J. Res. 630 (House Document 2173, Tab. 2). No further action was taken. 7 Congressional Record, vol. 49, part 3, 63d Cong., 3d Sess., pp. 2344-2366 and pp. 2258-2281. See attached copy of debate. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES ADVOCATING AN EXECUTIVE TERM OF 6 YEARS-Continued Congress, session and resolution 67th, 1st, S.J. Res. 86. 67th, 2d, H.J. Res. 290. 67th, 4th, H.J. Res. 413. 68th, 1st, S.J. Res. 6... 68th, 1st, H.J. Res. 185. 70th, 1st, H.J. Res. 88. 72d, 2d, H.J. Res. 59972d, 2d, H.J. Res. 608. 72d, 2d, H.J. Res. 96.. 74d, 2d, H.J. Res. 423. 75th, 1st, S.J. Res. 2. 75th, 1st, H.J. Res. 7.. 75th, 1st, H.J. Res. 15. 75th, 1st, H.J. Res. 37. 75th, 1st, H.J. Res. 68. 75th, 1st, H.J. Res. 70. 76th, 1st, S.J. Res. 15. 76th, 1st, S.J. Res. 141. Burke Wiley Jan. 3, 1939 Do. Do. June 5, 1939 77th, 1st, S.J. Res. 13. Wiley. 77th, 1st, H.J. Res. 4.. 77th, 1st, H.J. Re.. 9.. 77th, 1st, H.J. Res. 12. 77th, 1st, H.J. Res. 87. 78th, 1st, S.J. Res. 86. 78th, 1st, H.J. Res. 25. 78th, 1st, H.J. Res. 130. Dondero May 25, 1943 78th, 1st, H.J. Res. 172.. Arnold. Oct. 14, 1943 79th, 1st, S.J. Res. 21.. 79th, 1st, H.J. Res. 36. 79th, 1st, H.J. Res. 68. 79th, 1st, H.J. Res 151. Lemke Apr. 12, 1945 79th, 1st, H.J. Res. 229_ Arnold July 17, 1945 79th, 2d, H.J. Res. 339. Randolph. Apr. 13, 1946 80th, 1st, S.J. Res. 18. 80th, 1st, S.J. Res. 29. 80th, 1st, S.J. Res. 55. Bridges.. Feb. 3, 1947 80th, 1st, H.J. Res. 4. Angell.. Jan. 3, 1947 80th, 1st, H.J. Res. 6. Dondero.. Do. 80th, 1st, H.J. Res. 25. 80th, 1st, H.J. Res. 28. 80th, 1st, H.J. Res. 87. 80th, 1st, H.J. Res. 111 81st, 1st, H.J. Res. 207. 82d, 1st, H.J. Res. 124 82d, 1st, H.J. Res. 220 90th, 2d, S.J. Res. 178. 91st, 1st, S.J. Res. 21. 92d, 1st, S.J. Res. 77.. Stockman Apr. 3, 1951 Frenzel. June 22, 1971 Chamberlain.. July 15, 1971 THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, A SINGLE PRESIDENTIAL TERM OF SIX YEARS PRO 1. There is need for a change in the length of term for which the President of the United States shall hold office. (a) A long term of office, now made possible by reelection every four years tends toward autocracy and bureaucracy. (b) It also makes possible a dangerous political machine. (c) It interferes with the highest efficiency of the President as the nation's executive. 2. A single six-year term of office will remedy the evils of the present system. (a) It will remove the living menace of Caesarism. (b) It will be a blow to the spoils system. (c) It will increase the President's efficiency. (d) It will relieve the strain now attendant upon the presidential office. 3. A single six-year term will be advantageous for other reasons. (a) The present burdensome cost of elections upon the people would be reduced. (b) The resulting disturbances to trade, markets, and money would occur less often. (c) The argument that no restrictions should be put upon the people in the election of their chief executive is not valid. CON 1. The supposed evils of our existing presidential term of office, and the efficacy of a single six-year term in correcting them have been considerably over⚫estimated. (a) It is not the way to get rid of political patronage. (c) The President will only be independent of political pressure when his tenure of office is unlimited. (d) Presidential elections do not invariably bring about business upheavals. (e) Election campaigns are valuable in training voters in citizenship. (f) To establish a single six-year term is not the way to relieve our presidents from the strain of office. 2. A single-six-year term for President would be not only undesirable but dangerous. (a) One term only makes the President as independent of public opinion as a life term. (b) A six-year term is too long to wait (1) to recall a bad president. (2) To give the people an opportunity to express their opinions on questions of public policy. (c) One term only would hamper the President in the performance of his duties and embarrass the people. 3. It is an interference with the constitutional rights of the people. 4. Better control over a President while in office is preferable to restricting the length of term. (Abstracted from The reference shelf, Volume III, No. 3-A single six-year term for president-Edith M. Phelps, compiler. New York, 1925, p. 7–14.) FREDERICK L. SCOTT, Government and General Research Division. THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE, Washington, D.C., September 9, 1971. THE PRESIDENTIAL TERM: A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY Aiken, George. Presidential tenure. Remarks in the senate. Congressional Record, v. 116, March 31, 1970: S. 4662-4663. Aiken urges a six-year term for presidents. Washington Star, April 1, 1970: A 17. Bartlett, Charles. Long presidential tenure appeals. Washington Star, July 16, 1968: A 10. Childs, Marquis. Talk of one term presidency gains. Washington Post, March 26, 1971: A 27. -Corwin, Edward S. The president office and powers, 1787-1948: history and analysis of practice and opinion. New York: New York University Press, 1948. 552 p. [Chapter II: "Election, tenure, impreachment, etc.," pp. 39-81.] Dirksen, Everett M. Six-year term for president. Remarks in the senate. Congressional Record (bound edition), v. 93, February 6, 1947: 858-59. Farrand, Max. The framing of the Constitution of the United States. New (ed.). The records of the federal convention of 1787. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1937. Four volumes. References to presidential tenure: in Virginia plan, vol. 1, p. 21; in Pinckney plan, vol. 2, 135; vol. 3, p. 110, 606; in discussion of Committee of the Whole (seven years voted), vol. 1, p. 64, 68–72, 74; in report of Virginia plan, vol. 1, p. 226, 230, 236; in New Jersey plan, vol. 1, 244, 247; in Hamilton plan, vol. 1, p. 289, 292, 300, 304; in discussion of Convention, (good behavior, 7 years, 6 years voted), vol. 2, p. 23, 32-36; vol. 4, p. 4, vol. 2, p. 50-51, 58, 59; in Reconsideration, 7 years and no reelection voted, vol. 2, p. 97, 102, 116, 120; in Committee of Detail, vol. 2, p. 134; in notes of Committee of Detail, vol. 2, p. 145, 171; in report of Committee (7 years), vol. 2, p. 185; in consideration, vol. 2, p. 397, 404; in report of 4 years, vol. 2, p. 493, 497; in vote on 4 years, vol. 2, p. 517, 525; in Constitution, vol. 2, p. 657; in Hamilton's unpresented plan, vol. 3, p. 624; in Madison's statement on problem, vol. 3, p. 132. JK 141 1937a "How long should a U.S. President hold office?" Congressional Digest, v. 23, no. 5, May 1944: 133-160. Jackson, Andrew. First annual message to congress, December, 1829 in Richardson's messages and papers of the presidents. New York, 1897. Vol. 111: 1011. J81 B97 Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to John Taylor, January, 1805 in the Jeffersonian Cyclopedia by John P. Foley. New York: Funk and Wagnalls Co., 1900: 365– 367. JK 113 J4 Koening, Louis W. The Chief executive. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, Inc., 1968. 465 p. [Chapter 4: "Tenure," pp. 59-86]. JK516K6 1968 Mansfield, Senator Mike. Resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution of the United States relating to the term of office of president and vice president. Congressional Record, vol. 117, April 1, 1971: S4296–97. Senate joint resolutions 19, 20 and 21-electoral reform-the Aiken and Mansfield proposals. Remarks in the senate. Congressional Record [daily ed.], January 17, 1969: 1245-47. Perrin, J. W. Presidential tenure and reeligibility. Political Science Quarterly. v. 29, September, 1914: 423-437. Phelps, Edith M. "A single six-year term for president." The Reference Shelf, Reedy, George E. The twilight of the presidency. New York: The World publishing company, 1970: 137-154. JK516R35 1970 Shaw, A. Vere. Tenure of the presidency. New York: A. V. Shaw Co., 1944. 25 p. JK550S47 Stanwood, Edward. A history of the presidency: from 1788 to 1897 (Revised by Charles Knowles Bolton). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1928. 586 p. [Chapter I: "The Electoral System," pp. 1–20]. JK511.S7 1928 Thach, Charles C. The creation of the presidency: 1775-1789. Baltimore: John Hopkins Press, 1923. 177 p. [Chapter IV: "The Presidency in the Federal Convention," pp. 76-105]. JK511T52 1970 White, William S. Six-year president biggest U.S. need. Washington Post, January 11, 1971, p. A-17. Wilson, Woodrow. Congressional government: a study in american politics in the executive. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Co., 1898: 242-293. JK1061 W766 1885 U.S. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary. Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing for succession to the presidency and vice-presidency. Hearings, Cong., sess., pursuant to H.J. Res. 264. Washington, U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1909. Jk538 1909 A3 Term of office of president, vice president; Report to Accompany H. J. Res. 115. [Washington, U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1910] 6 p. (61st Cong., 2d session, House. Report no. 61–121) JK550A5 1910 Terms of president, vice president, senators, and representatives; report to accompany H. J. Res. 204. [Washington, U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1912] 25 p. (62d Cong., 2d sess. House. Rept. 62-239) JK550 A5 1912 |