Week 6 Blog Contribution

I have been following the US election campaign, which has recently started to pick up. Something that surprised me was the floating idea that President Trump is seeking to serve three terms in office. This idea is linked to personalism as if a third term is pursued, political power will become increasingly concentrated in the hands of a single leader who dominates the political landscape through their personal authority, charisma and influence.

When rallying at a National Rifle Association convention, President Trump mentioned the idea of pursuing a third term. However, this goal is legally obstructed through the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which limits presidential terms to two. This Amendment codified what had been considered a political norm dating back to President George Washington and has only been violated once by Presiden Roosevelt. 

President Trump's holding of these aspirations highlights that he does not feel constrained by the current text of the American laws or constitution. For President Trump to achieve this and legally serve a third term, the 22nd Amendment would have to be repealed. 

This has brought ideas of personalism to mind, most notably through centralising power around the individual. If President Trump were to serve a third term, it would signal a move towards centralising authority in his hands, bypassing established norms and institutions that are designed to prevent one person from holding too much power for too long. This would weaken institutional checks and balances, and undermine the legal frameworks that ensure a peaceful transition of power. Therefore, a third President Trump term would represent a shift towards personalism, where President Trumps personal power is elevated above democratic norms. 

https://www.voanews.com/a/could-trump-legally-seek-a-third-presidential-term-/7654453.html 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/19/trump-nra-convention-dallas