How a Presidency Ends
A presidency can end when a leader completes their term, loses an election, resigns, is removed through impeachment, or leaves office due to death or incapacity. In the United States, the 22nd Amendment limits a president to two elected terms.
Election Loss and Term Limits
Presidents typically leave office after losing a reelection bid or when their successor is inaugurated. In the U.S., the president is elected every four years via the Electoral College. If no candidate wins a majority, the House of Representatives selects the president under the 12th Amendment.
Resignation and Removal
A president may resign voluntarily, as Richard Nixon did in 1974. Congress can remove a president through impeachment for "high crimes and misdemeanors," followed by a Senate trial. The Constitution also provides for the vice president to assume the presidency if the office becomes vacant.
