Is This US President Scenario Possible?

Oh my God.

Bill would have 2 years of presidency before he has to step down. He gets a max of 10 years in total.

The law states that you cannot be president for more than 2 consecutive terms, meaning Bill could run again this term if he chose. Hell, he could have ran 4 years ago.

The scenario is not possible. If you have done less than two years of an unexpired term, you can run again twice. But if you've done eight years, you cannot run again for a four-year term...not even for the VP spot.

no, a woman president is very unlikely

the bourne legitimacy wrote:

The law states that you cannot be president for more than 2 consecutive terms, meaning Bill could run again this term if he chose. Hell, he could have ran 4 years ago.

The 22nd Amendment says your wrong.

you're*

Sorry.

CTC wrote:

no, a woman president is very unlikely

haha niiiice

Aside from the fact that it would be political suicide for anyone to choose Bill Clinton as there running mate it is possible for him to serve as vice president since the constitution makes no provisions for the term limitation on vice presidents or whether or not former presidents can hold the office, however, if something were to happen to the serving president and they were to become incapacitated in some way it would not be possible for Bill Clinton to become president for a third term. This is stated in the 22nd amendment to the constitution. This idea was floated around in the 2004 election to bring clinton in as Kerry's running mate, but was dismissed due to a number of reasons, one of which was the possibility that he might actually be forced to serve as president if something were to happen to Kerry, thus breaching the constitution. This is an interesting topic for debate, but it likely will never happen, and if the situation is ever presented I'm sure congress would take quick action to make an amendment to the constitution to modify who would be next in line for the presidency. So as nice as it would be to have Bill back in office it just isnt possible.

Of course, according to Article II, section 1, Cheney shouldn't have become the Vice President in 2001: "The electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves. "

jpgarland wrote:

Of course, according to Article II, section 1, Cheney shouldn't have become the Vice President in 2001: "The electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves. "

Why do you say this? Cheney is from Wyoming and Bush is from Texas (well technically connecticut), so why can't Cheney be VP?

The law is 2 consecutive terms or 10 years total....you can technically be vp...and if the pres gets knocked off serve two years even if you have already served two terms.

I believe this issue is an unresolved constitutional question. Does someone as VP need to be eligible to run for president? Not just for Bill Clinton, but someone like Ahnold who isn't qualified to run for pres.

Contrary to what i said previously there actually is a provision in the constitution that would prevent Bill Clinton or George W. Bush, or any other subsequent two term president from running as a Vice presidential candidate. The last line of the twelfth amendment states "no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States", however, this amendment was made in 1804, well before the two term limit was ratified in 1951, so it is clear that the intention of the amendment was not to prevent former presidents from serving as vice president. But constitutionally it is impossible for any president who has served for two terms to be named vice president, so no, Bill could not serve as VP unless a new amendment was added to the constitution.

googlerific wrote:

I believe this issue is an unresolved constitutional question. Does someone as VP need to be eligible to run for president? Not just for Bill Clinton, but someone like Ahnold who isn't qualified to run for pres.

VP must be able to be president, so neither Bill, Arnold, or the Shrub can be on the VP ticket.

You can't be sworn in as vice-president if you're inelligible for the Presidency. Without changing the Constitution (which I think they should; I believe that term limits remove a level of accountability from the President; Bush can piss over everyone all he wants because he's not up for reelection again) BC is out.

the bourne legitimacy wrote:

The law states that you cannot be president for more than 2 consecutive terms, meaning Bill could run again this term if he chose. Hell, he could have ran 4 years ago.

You are ignorant of the US Constitution.

kcw wrote:

jpgarland wrote:

Of course, according to Article II, section 1, Cheney shouldn't have become the Vice President in 2001: "The electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves. "

Why do you say this? Cheney is from Wyoming and Bush is from Texas (well technically connecticut), so why can't Cheney be VP?

copied from about.com:

In July, shortly before being named as Bush's running mate, Cheney changed his voter's registration from Texas to Wyoming where he was raised, served as a U.S. Congressman, and still owns a home. However, one of the requirements for Voter Registration in Wyoming is that the registrant "Be an actual and physically bona fide resident of Wyoming" living in the state for one year before becoming a resident.Interesting side note: According to a news report in the November 22, 2000 Austin American-Statesman, Cheney claimed the homestead tax exemption on his Dallas home (put up for sale just this month) which is only allowed on property the owner considers their main home. So, did he simply consider it his main home for tax purposes but not for Presidential electoral vote purposes?

kcw wrote:

Contrary to what i said previously there actually is a provision in the constitution that would prevent Bill Clinton or George W. Bush, or any other subsequent two term president from running as a Vice presidential candidate. The last line of the twelfth amendment states "no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States", however, this amendment was made in 1804, well before the two term limit was ratified in 1951, so it is clear that the intention of the amendment was not to prevent former presidents from serving as vice president. But constitutionally it is impossible for any president who has served for two terms to be named vice president, so no, Bill could not serve as VP unless a new amendment was added to the constitution.

What is interesting is that the Constitution originally did not clearly state that if the President dies that the VP becomes President. I cannot recall who the first president was to die in office, but there was controversy over whether the VP automatically ascended. The VP at the time basically moved in and said "I am the President". That set the precedent. It was not codified until much later.