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Congressional Republicans have proposed a Constitutional Amendment that would impose term limits on themselves.
Spearheaded by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, the amendment would limit United States senators to two six-year terms, while U.S. House members would be limited to just three two-year terms.
“Term limits are critical to fixing what’s wrong with Washington, D.C.,” Cruz said. Notably, Cruz was just reelected for his third term in the Senate.
The conversation is frequently at the forefront of public discourse, especially when discussing the advanced age and health issues of lawmakers.
“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.” Cruz stated.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., introduced the House’s version of the resolution. “Elected office should represent a short-term privilege of public service, not a career choice.” the four-term congressman said of the proposed amendment.
“Those of us in Congress ought to serve for a reasonable period of time and then return home to live under the laws we enacted.” Norman added.
While many lawmakers refuse to entertain the idea, Cruz has proposed a term-limit Constitutional Amendment four times since 2017. Norman most recently announced his intention to renew the push last February.
To amend the US Constitution, two thirds of the House and the Senate must vote in favor of the resolution. Then three-fourths of the states, or 38 out of 50, must then ratify the amendment.
Another way the Constitution can be amended is through a constitutional convention, which is when two-thirds of the state legislature get together and pass an amendment. This, however, has never happened. Congress has passed all 27 amendments to the Constitution, followed by ratification from the states. The last constitutional amendment was in 1992.
Cosponsors for the joint resolution include Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah, Rick Scott of Florida, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Todd Young of Indiana, Steve Daines of Montana, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Bill Haggerty of Tennessee, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Katie Britt of Alabama, and Jim Banks of Indiana.
