Al-Sisi, the minister of defense and head of the army who led the coup that ousted Mohamed Morsi in 2013, was himself elected President in 2014 and vowed not to challenge the constitutional provision that limits the leader of the country to two four-year terms. He was re-elected in 2018.

Under the terms of the two amendments, which had already been approved 531–22 by the Egyptian Parliament, the presidential term is now six years, not four, meaning that Sisi's current term would end in 2024; further, he is now allowed to run for another six-year term. The language of revised Article 140 says that the president then "cannot remain in office for more than two consecutive terms."

Another change to the constitution would create a second parliamentary chamber, to be called the Senate, that would have at least 180 members and would allow the president to appoint one-third of those members.

More broadly increasing the president's power were other parts of the two amendments, which amended articles 185, 189, and 193 of the constitution. Sisi can now appoint the chief justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court and appoint the public prosecutor and other top judicial officials.

Other changes are these:

• The number of members in the House of Representatives will be dropped from 596 to 450; of that 450, 112 must be women.
• The President can name one or more Vice-president.
• Civilians accused of assault military officers, camps, or establishments can face trial before military courts.

The amendments garnered 89 percent of the vote in the nationwide referendum, with turnout running at 44 percent of eligible voters. In the weeks leading up to the vote, mass arrests were common and opposition leaders were targeted by government investigators.

The government was strongly in favor of the changes and, observers said, had blocked websites opposing the amendments, including an online petition to gather signatures in protest.

Also during the weekend, Sisi announced that the government would be extending its declaration of a state of emergency for three months.