Who established the tradition of serving no more than two terms as president?

• A. James Madison
• B. John Adams
• C. Thomas Jefferson
• D. George Washington

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is recognizing the unwritten rule that a president should not stay in office for more than two terms. George Washington set this up by voluntarily stepping down after his second term, modeling a limit on presidential power and showing that leadership should rotate to prevent the buildup of a powerful, lasting authority. His decision established an informal standard that future presidents would follow.

James Madison, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson all served different term lengths, but none of them initiated this two-term limit as a practice. Madison did serve two terms, Jefferson also served two, and Adams served one, but the practice of limiting terms came from Washington’s example, not from their actions. The two-term tradition remained informal for a long time and was later codified in the 22nd Amendment.