Term limits prohibit an elected official from serving more terms than the limit allows. The Presidency is limited to 2 four-year terms but members of Congress do not have term limits. The term for a representative is 2 years and a senator’s term is 6 years. Senators and representatives have great advantages when running for reelection such as fundraising, free media exposure and office perks. Considering the cost of election campaigns, challengers have an extremely difficult task displacing incumbents. Because of this, over the last 25 years nearly 90% of all members of Congress have been reelected. Opponents of term limits believe the best candidates should be allowed to serve our nation regardless of how long they have served. Term limit supporters claim that repeatedly-elected politicians often become insulated career civil servants and inefficient representatives of their constituencies. Supreme Court decisions have struck down term limit laws previously enacted in several states on Constitutional grounds. Supporters wish to amend our Constitution to enact term limits.

Pending Joint Resolution: H.J.Res.11 - Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of terms that a Member of Congress may serve.
Sponsor: Rep. Ralph Norman (SC)
Status: House Judiciary Committee
Chair: Rep. Jim Jordan (OH)