"But he can't be President again!"

An American acquaintance was trying to explain this to one of the locals yesterday. He was getting quite frustrated as he did so. 

"Our Constitution doesn't allow it. You can only get elected twice."

That was about as far as he could explain. He asked me but I am no expert on the constitutional law of the United States of America. We looked it up instead. The internet has its uses!

There it was - section 122 of their constitution does not allow someone to be President more than twice. 

"So that's eight years?"

"No, ten," I said.

"But Presidential terms are four years..."

"Yes, but if the president prior to that dies in office then the vice-president takes over and if that is a term of two years or less then they can run for two more terms."

The American looked at me and gave a sort of grimace. We began to wonder if the incumbent could find a way around that. Do you have to die in office or could you swap places with the vice-president? If you are no longer the president then could you run again?

There are generally considered to be good reasons to limit someone's term in office if they have certain powers. The constitution here in Downunder has no such limitations but our Prime Minister is not elected. S/he is there because he is chosen by the party which is in power. Strictly speaking the person chosen would not even need to be a member of parliament but of course that would not work so one of their own is chosen. On one side this is done through a complex set of internal "rules" and on the other there is some lobbying, jostling and eventually a vote. 

I have known other organisations where the same people have held office for many years. It has rarely been a good thing. They can come to believe they own the position and the organisation. Other people come to believe someone else will do all the work. I helped to set up a group and was the first leader of it but flatly refused to go on doing all the work. Turns are now taken.  I am the "go to" person for another group but the staff member at the library is responsible for most of what goes on. I can live with that because they know there is at least one other person they can call on. I made sure of that. 

"Political laziness allows communism to flourish," the American said at one point in the discussion, "You don't need to think. You just do what your Supreme Leader tells you." 

It's an interesting thought - and perhaps a dangerous idea.