The 22nd Amendment

The U.S. has a new amendment to the Constitution. Last week three more state legislatures approved the anti-third-term proposal, bringing to 34 the total of states to ratify it. This week Utah and Nevada became the 35th and 36th-and wrote the 22nd Amendment into law.

A reflection in a sense on the judgment of future generations, the amendment will not restrict Harry Truman's right to run for a third term (although it might conceivably give the President pause). But beginning with Mr. Truman's successor, it will allow no man to sit in the White House for more than two full terms, or, if he happens to come in through the vice-presidency for a partial term, for more than ten years--not even if the majority of the U.S. wants him there. The nation could, of course, repeal the amendment if it ever wanted another third-term President badly enough.

*The 36th state to enter the union, Nevada deliberately held off until Utah had passed the measure, to gain the honor of being the 36th and deciding state to vote its approval.

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