What is the maximum number of terms a U.S. President can serve?

The maximum number of terms a U.S. President can serve is two terms, which is defined by the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This amendment was ratified in 1951, primarily as a response to Franklin D. Roosevelt's four-term presidency. It establishes that no person can be elected to the office of the President more than twice.

The rationale behind this amendment was to prevent any one individual from holding too much power for an extended period, thereby promoting a healthier democratic process with regular leadership transitions. This limit ensures that there is a rotation in leadership and that various perspectives and policies can be brought to the forefront through different administrations. Thus, two terms remains the standard, reinforcing the principles of democracy and the rule of law in the United States.