Congressional Term Limits
Further information:
Contract with America
Applying term limits to Congressmen was proposed in the "Citizen Legislature Act" (H.J.Res.73) during the
104th Congress as an amendment to the
Constitution that would limit Congressmen to 6 two-year terms. This act was defeated in the House by a 227-204 margin (the 227 votes in favor were insufficient, as a proposed Constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority of 290 votes to be passed). Since the failure of the Citizen Legislature Act to be passed, there has been no new legislation proposed advocating the imposing of term limits.
The introduction of term limits on members of Congress would prevent the electoral advantage in the long run; however, it is not certain how well it would have aided in reducing electoral advantage in House races involving an incumbent who was still eligible to run for re-election.
[45]
Term limits in the United States are not unheard of; several states have amended their own constitutions to limit terms on elected statewide officials as high as the
Governor's office (most notably the
Commonwealth of Virginia, which limits its governors to one four-year term). However, on a federal level only the
Office of the Presidency has term limits imposed on it (by the
22nd Amendment to the
Constitution).Congressional Term Limits
Further information:
Contract with America
Applying term limits to Congressmen was proposed in the "Citizen Legislature Act" (H.J.Res.73) during the
104th Congress as an amendment to the
Constitution that would limit Congressmen to 6 two-year terms. This act was defeated in the House by a 227-204 margin (the 227 votes in favor were insufficient, as a proposed Constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority of 290 votes to be passed). Since the failure of the Citizen Legislature Act to be passed, there has been no new legislation proposed advocating the imposing of term limits.
The introduction of term limits on members of Congress would prevent the electoral advantage in the long run; however, it is not certain how well it would have aided in reducing electoral advantage in House races involving an incumbent who was still eligible to run for re-election.
[45]
Term limits in the United States are not unheard of; several states have amended their own constitutions to limit terms on elected statewide officials as high as the
Governor's office (most notably the
Commonwealth of Virginia, which limits its governors to one four-year term). However, on a federal level only the
Office of the Presidency has term limits imposed on it (by the
22nd Amendment to the
Constitution).