Term Limits: Should There be a Limit on How Long Lawmakers Can be in Congress? (H. Joint Res. 14)

What is H. Joint Res. 14?

(Updated June 29, 2020)

This joint resolution would amend the United States Constitution to limit member of Congress to serving no more than three terms in the House, and no more than two terms in the Senate.

This means that no lawmaker could sit in Congress longer than six years as a Representative or 12 years as a Senator — 18 years tops. While lawmakers could serve an additional consecutive term in either the House or Senate to fill a vacated seat, it would count as a full-term against their limit if they serve more than one year of a House term or three years of a Senate term.

Because this is a joint resolution to amend the Constitution, it would not require approval from the President. Because states can't impose Congressional term limits on their officials, only a resolution amending the Constitution can impose them. 

Currently, members of Congress do not have term limits. As long as they are re-elected to their positions — every two years in the House and every six years in the Senate — they may continue to serve in Congress for as long as they are re-elected.

Argument in favor

No one likes a career politician.

Argument opposed

Don't like your lawmakers? Vote for someone else!

Impact

Taxpayers, potential candidates for congressional elections, incumbent members of Congress, and the U.S. political sphere.

Cost of H. Joint Res. 14

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: This bill's sponsor, Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ), self-imposed a three-term limit when he was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1994. He served through 2000, stepped down, and then eventually returned to Congress. Describing the rationale for imposing term limits, Rep. Salmon said:

"Now more than ever, citizens need to see accountability and responsibility from their elected representatives at all levels of government. Sadly, many today don't feel that their elected members of Congress are accountable to their voice, but rather to the voices of special interest groups."

Of Note: 

The debate over term limits is one of the oldest points of contention in U.S. political history — in fact it is a debate that pre-dates the U.S. Constitution. In the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776, members of the state assembly were limited to serving "four years in seven." 

Term limits for members of Congress most recently became a significant issue in 1994 when 22 states had term limits for their congressional delegations. The U.S. Supreme Court then struck down state-imposed term limits that are stricter than what is found in the Constitution in the case . The issue resurfaced in 2012 when the Senate rejected a non-binding resolution suggesting that the Constitution should be amended to put in place term limits in a 24-75 vote.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ) Press Release
• Countable YouTube
  
• CBS Local
• The Hill
• U.S Term Limits (In Favor)