“Legislative Service Term-Limit Amendment”

← Back to Category — Democratic Reform

Set Term Limits for Congress

AKA “Congressional Leadership Renewal Act”


Which agency/agencies promulgated the regulation? *
• U.S. Congress (via the U.S. Constitution’s Article I)
Which title, parts, and/or sections of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) should be rescinded? *
• Article I, § 2 – remove the open-ended service provision for Representatives. • Article I, § 3 – remove the open-ended service provision for Senators.
What is your name?
—OPTIONAL--
Is your proposed rescission a notice of proposed rulemaking, final rule, direct final rule, interim final rule, or interpretive rule? *
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
What is the name of the regulation being rescinded, if applicable? *
“Legislative Service Term-Limit Amendment”
Please provide a short summary of the justifications for the rescission. *
The Constitution currently establishes only minimum ages for federal legislators, allowing unlimited consecutive terms. Rescinding the open-ended service clauses and replacing them with explicit term-limits (three House terms, two Senate terms) prevents entrenched incumbency, fosters fresh leadership, and curbs career-politician incentives.
Please insert the address of the agency. [NPRM, DFR, and IFR only]
U.S. House Judiciary Committee 2138 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Please insert the contact information for the agency. *
(202) 224-5225
What is the background for the regulation being rescinded? *
Since 1789, Article I §§ 2 and 3 have specified only the minimum age and term length (two years for House, six years for Senate) but imposed no cap on how many times a Member may stand for re-election. Many states and other democracies employ legislative term-limits to encourage turnover and discourage long-term incumbency.
Explain the reasons for the rescission. *
• Article I, § 2: Removing the unlimited-service clause and imposing a three-term (six-year) limit on Representatives ensures periodic infusion of new viewpoints. • Article I, § 3: Removing the unlimited-service clause and imposing a two-term (twelve-year) limit on Senators balances experience with renewal.
Describe the text of the relevant C.F.R. provisions as it will exist after the rescission. *
— Article I, § 2 would read: “No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained the age of twenty-five Years; no person shall serve as a Representative for more than three consecutive terms.” — Article I, § 3 would read: “No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained the age of thirty Years; no person shall serve as a Senator for more than two consecutive terms.”
Please insert the name of the current agency head. *
Jim Jordan; Charles Grassley
Please insert the title of the agency head. *
Chair, U.S. House Judiciary Committee; Chair, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee

← Back to Category — Democratic Reform