What is the maximum time a president may serve as stated in the 22nd Amendment?

The 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution specifically sets limits on the number of terms a president can serve. It states that no person can be elected to the office of the President more than twice, which totals a maximum of 8 years. However, it does make allowances for someone who may assume the presidency due to a vacancy through succession—they could potentially serve up to an additional two years of that predecessor's term without exceeding the total maximum of 10 years in office. This provision allows for the possibility of serving for a longer timeframe but does not mean a president may be elected to serve 10 full years. Therefore, the correct understanding is that while the maximum elected duration is 8 years, a combination of being elected plus fulfilling a partial term could lead to a maximum of 10 years served as president.