Rep. Ralph Norman's Introduces Constitutional Amendment to Impose Congressional Term Limits

Washington, D.C. - On Monday, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) introduced H.J. Res. 12, an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to limit the number of terms a member may serve. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced the companion amendment in the Senate yesterday.

This amendment, if ratified, would limit the number of terms a Member of Congress may serve. Those serving in the House of Representatives would be limited to serving three (3) terms, and those serving in the Senate would be limited to two (2) terms. Should someone be elected during a special election to fill a vacancy, this proposed amendment defines the length of a "qualifying term" as at least one year in the House of Representatives and at least three years in the Senate. It also starts the term limit counter after ratification, such that terms which began prior to that date would not be taken into consideration.

Background

According to the Pew Research Center, an overwhelming majority of adults, 87%, favor limiting the number of terms that members of Congress are allowed to serve.

Rep. Norman previously introduced a Constitutional Amendment to impose term limits during the 116th, 117th, and 118th Congresses.

Statements

"With the evident abuse of power that has taken place in Congress the notion of term limits is basic common sense," said Congressman Norman. "Many of my colleagues have drifted so far from the reality of the people they serve by turning 'representative of the people' into a lifelong career. Members must be willing to not only enact laws, but return to their respective districts to live under them."

Senator Cruz said, "Term limits are critical to fixing what's wrong with Washington, D.C. The Founding Fathers envisioned a government of citizen legislators who would serve for a few years and return home, not a government run by a small group of special interests and lifelong, permanently entrenched politicians who prey upon the brokenness of Washington to govern in a manner that is totally unaccountable to the American people. Term limits bring about long-overdue accountability. I urge my colleagues to advance this amendment to the states so that it may be quickly ratified and become a constitutional amendment."