This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to limit members of the House of Representatives to six terms and Senators to two terms, excluding those serving before the 118th Congress.
Dave McCormick
Senator
PA
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to establish term limits for members of Congress. Representatives would be limited to six two-year terms, and Senators to two six-year terms. The amendment would not apply to anyone serving in Congress before the 118th Congress, and must be ratified within seven years.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment Caps House at 6 Terms, Senate at 2; Current Members Exempt
This joint resolution proposes adding an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would set term limits for members of Congress. If ratified, it would limit individuals to serving six two-year terms in the House of Representatives and two six-year terms in the Senate. The proposal specifies that these limits wouldn't apply to anyone serving before the 118th Congress, and it sets a seven-year deadline for ratification by the states.
Setting the Clock on Congress
The core idea here is straightforward: capping the time anyone can spend in Washington as a federal lawmaker. For the House, the limit is six terms, totaling 12 years. The bill clarifies that serving more than one year of a House term counts as a full term. For the Senate, it's two terms, also totaling 12 years, with serving more than three years counting as a full term. A key detail in Section 3 is the grandfather clause – these proposed limits do not affect anyone holding office before the 118th Congress began. So, current long-serving members wouldn't be term-limited out by this specific amendment.
Fresh Faces vs. Familiar Hands
What could this mean in practice? Proponents often argue term limits encourage fresh perspectives and make politicians more responsive to voters back home, as they know their time in D.C. is limited. It potentially levels the playing field for challengers running against incumbents. However, there's another side. Experienced lawmakers often develop deep expertise on complex issues – think national security, intricate budget details, or long-term infrastructure planning. Losing that institutional knowledge could make Congress less effective, potentially increasing the influence of lobbyists or unelected staff who stick around longer than the elected officials. It’s like trading a seasoned project manager who knows all the pitfalls for a new hire – you might get fresh energy, but you lose valuable experience.
The Amendment Gauntlet
It's crucial to remember this is just a proposal. Amending the Constitution is a high bar. According to Article V of the Constitution, this proposed amendment would need to be ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states (that's 38 states) within the seven-year timeframe laid out in the resolution. Without that widespread state-level approval, this proposal remains just that – a proposal.