A 20 Year US Presidential Term

with POD that early, neither Andrew Jackson or Nancy Pelosi will be born.

Jackson was born in 1767. A POD during the Constitutional Convention, the summer after he turned 20, would certainly NOT prevent his birth. There are a number of others in the lists whose births might have been prevented. But it ain't necessarily so. Butterfly nets are wonderful things ;)
 
This is a good point. Also, I think if the standard term in office is 20 years, that would strongly discourage electing anyone over the age of 40-50 (skewing younger at the start, older in the present as average lifespan lengthens).
Indeed. It's long enough to be practically a lifetime appointment and I think most framers of the US constitution didn't agree with having an unrenewable elected monarch.
 
We do not know whether serving as president after 1797 would shorten or lengthen Washington's life, but it is unlikely he will serve out his full twenty-year term. Depending on just when he dies, he is presumably succeeded by twenty years of either John Adams or Thomas Jefferson. If Adams is elected in 1798-9 at the height of the anti-French hysteria, his election will be the product of a passing mood soon violently reversed, and he will soon be frustrated by a hostile Republican Congress--yet the country will be stuck with him for twenty years unless he steps down or the Constitution is amended...
 

SsgtC

Banned
We do not know whether serving as president after 1797 would shorten or lengthen Washington's life, but it is unlikely he will serve out his full twenty-year term. Depending on just when he dies, he is presumably succeeded by twenty years of either John Adams or Thomas Jefferson. If Adams is elected in 1798-9 at the height of the anti-French hysteria, his election will be the product of a passing mood soon violently reversed, and he will soon be frustrated by a hostile Republican Congress--yet the country will be stuck with him for twenty years unless he steps down or the Constitution is amended...
Even if the Constitution if amended, as sends likely, it is likely amended for future Presidents, specifically excluding the current office holder. Just as the 22nd Amendment excluded Truman from the term limit.

The other point you raised, that Adams would be elected based on anti-French hysteria. I don't think that would happen in a world with 20 year terms. The electorate as a whole would, I think, place much more weight on having a steady, moderate hand on the tiller. With no way to vote out someone you don't like for 20 years, elections likely are given much more thought and consideration than they are today. We would never see someone like Trump even be considered for the office ITTL. Likewise, people like McCain, HRC, etc would all be considered far too old and highly unlikely to finish out their term.
 

SsgtC

Banned
Here's a thought. Does anyone think we could see some interesting traditions formed around the office if the term is 20 years? For example, in the military, senior officers (Generals and Admirals) are usually appointed to their commands for a three year period. But they traditionally resign, retire, or get promoted out of it after 2 years. Could a tradition be formed where the President is elected to a 20 year term, but traditionally resigns after say 10 years?
 
Jackson was born in 1767. A POD during the Constitutional Convention, the summer after he turned 20, would certainly NOT prevent his birth. There are a number of others in the lists whose births might have been prevented. But it ain't necessarily so. Butterfly nets are wonderful things ;)

But whether or not these people literally exist is not really the question; it's whether they would fulfill the same role as in OTL.
 
After I wrote this original post, i began to think that the effect of this would be electing a President for Life for the United States of America. In the head of state role, I certainly see the staid, moderate experienced hand as being incredibly popular. The head of government role could have evolved onto an appointed and confirm-able post, the First Secretary.

I would be interesting to think about a the confirmation process as being in effect the equivalent of creating a government.
 
The 20 year term would probably be abolished during the administration of President Thomas Jefferson--assuming it still happens. (Whether it does may depend on when Washington dies.)
 
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