Simone Lawson
The question of imposing term limits on elected officials has been a topic of debate since the first discussions surrounding the ratification of the US Constitution. While the Twenty-Second Amendment, ratified in 1951, established term limits for the presidency, limiting a president's time in office to two terms, the debate over term limits for Congress has been more contentious. In the 1990s, a key Supreme Court decision ruled that states could not impose term limits on their federal representatives or senators, effectively shutting down one proposed path to term limits for Congress. Since then, several attempts have been made to introduce a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on members of Congress. Most recently, Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Ralph Norman introduced an amendment to impose term limits on members of the House and the Senate, with Senators from various states joining the effort. The amendment proposes limiting US Senators to two six-year terms and members of the House of Representatives to three two-year terms. While the idea of term limits for Congress has gained significant popular support, with supermajorities of Republicans and Democrats favoring it, converting this idea into a constitutional amendment remains a challenging task.
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What You'll Learn
Ted Cruz introduces an amendment to impose term limits for senators
Term limits for senators would require a constitutional amendment. Article V of the US Constitution outlines the process of proposing and ratifying amendments.
US Senator Ted Cruz of Texas has been at the forefront of the movement to impose term limits on members of Congress, including senators and representatives. Along with his colleagues, Senator Cruz has introduced an amendment to the US Constitution to limit the terms of senators and representatives. The amendment proposes that US senators be limited to two six-year terms, while members of the US House of Representatives would be limited to three two-year terms after the amendment's enactment.
Senator Cruz has emphasised that term limits are essential to restoring accountability in Washington, DC. He and other proponents of the amendment believe that the Founding Fathers envisioned a government of citizen legislators who would serve for a limited period and then return to their lives as regular citizens. By imposing term limits, they aim to prevent the concentration of power in a small group of lifelong politicians who may become disconnected from the people they represent.
Senator Cruz has introduced similar amendments in previous Congresses, specifically in 2017, 2019, and 2021, with the support of several Republican and Democratic colleagues. The most recent push for term limits, reintroduced in 2025, has gained recognition from organisations like U.S. Term Limits, which advocates for reform in Congress.
The proposal for term limits in Congress follows a long tradition of amending the Constitution to impose term limits on various elected offices. Notably, the Twenty-second Amendment, ratified in 1951, established term limits for the presidency, limiting individuals to two elected terms.
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The amendment would limit senators to two six-year terms
The United States Constitution is rarely changed, and amending it is challenging. However, in recent years, there has been growing support for imposing term limits on members of Congress, including senators. This idea of limiting senators to a specific number of terms has gained traction, with many recognizing the need for change to ensure that Washington works for the American people and prevents politicians from becoming entrenched in their positions.
One prominent advocate for term limits is Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, who, alongside his colleagues, has repeatedly introduced a constitutional amendment to limit the terms of senators and representatives. The amendment proposes limiting US Senators to two six-year terms and Members of the House of Representatives to three two-year terms. Senator Cruz emphasizes that term limits are crucial for holding politicians accountable and aligning with the Founding Fathers' vision of citizen legislators.
The proposed amendment has garnered support from several senators, including Senators Mike Lee, Rick Scott, Cynthia Lummis, and others, who share the belief that elected office should be a privilege of public service rather than a career. They argue that serving for a reasonable period and then returning to live under the enacted laws promotes good governance.
While the idea of term limits has gained popularity, turning it into a constitutional amendment is a complex process. According to Article V of the Constitution, there are two paths to amend it. The conventional path requires a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate to propose an amendment, followed by ratification by three-quarters of the states. Alternatively, two-thirds of state legislatures (34 states) can call for a constitutional convention, with 38 states needed for ratification.
Despite the challenges, supporters of term limits continue to push for this reform, believing it is essential for improving American politics and ensuring that elected officials remain representative of the people they serve.
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The need for a constitutional amendment to impose term limits
The Constitution of the United States is rarely amended, but there has been much speculation about the next amendment to the nation's founding document. One idea that has gained popularity is imposing term limits on members of Congress. While there is strong support for this proposal, it would require a challenging and lengthy process to become a constitutional amendment.
The concept of term limits for elected officials is not new. In 1947, the House of Representatives proposed a resolution limiting the presidency to two terms, which was ratified as the Twenty-second Amendment in 1951. Since then, all presidents have served no more than two elected terms. Similarly, there have been several attempts to impose term limits on members of Congress through state laws. However, in 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states cannot impose term limits on their federal representatives or senators.
As a result, the only way to establish term limits for members of Congress is through a constitutional amendment. Senators Ted Cruz and Ralph Norman have introduced such an amendment, limiting senators to two six-year terms and members of the House of Representatives to three two-year terms. This amendment has been cosponsored by several senators and is supported by a majority of Americans, according to recent surveys.
However, amending the Constitution is a challenging process. Under Article V, there are two paths to amend the Constitution. The conventional path requires a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate, with three-quarters of the states ratifying the amendment. This process has proven difficult to achieve for term limit proposals in the past. Previous attempts have failed to gain the required support. The unconventional path involves calling a constitutional convention of the states, which has never been done before, with at least 34 states needed to call the convention and 38 states to ratify the amendment.
Despite the challenges, there is a strong case for imposing term limits on members of Congress. Supporters argue that term limits are critical to fixing what is wrong with Washington, D.C., and ensuring that elected officials remain representative of the people they serve. They believe that term limits would prevent politicians from becoming out of touch with the rest of the country and promote accountability. Therefore, while imposing term limits on members of Congress requires a constitutional amendment, it is a necessary step towards a more responsive and effective government.
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The history of constitutional amendments in the US
The Constitution of the United States is a living document that has been amended several times since its ratification in 1789. The process of amending the Constitution is outlined in Article Five, which provides a two-step process for making changes to the nation's plan of government. Amendments must be properly proposed and ratified before becoming operative.
The Founding Fathers recognised that the Constitution may have flaws and would need to adapt as the country grew. As a result, they included a procedure for future generations to improve upon it through the Article V amendment process. More than 11,000 amendments have been proposed, but only 27 have been ratified and become part of the Constitution.
The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified simultaneously in 1791. These amendments include fundamental freedoms such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, known as the Reconstruction Amendments, were added during the Reconstruction era (1865-1870) and were transformational in abolishing slavery and extending equal rights to African Americans.
The Progressive era (1913-1920) brought about the 16th through 19th Amendments, and the Modern era (1933-1992) added the remaining eight amendments. The most recent amendment was the 27th Amendment, ratified in 1992, which pertains to congressional compensation. It's worth noting that there have been attempts to impose term limits for members of Congress through constitutional amendments, but none have been successful thus far.
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Public opinion on term limits for members of Congress
Public opinion surveys generally reveal consistent, bipartisan support for term limits for members of Congress. In a September 2023 Pew Research Center survey, 87% of respondents supported term limits for members of Congress. This includes 90% of Republicans, 86% of Democrats, and 84% of Democratic leaners. A March 2023 study from the University of Maryland found similar results, with 83% of respondents in favor of a constitutional amendment to establish congressional term limits. The study, which surveyed 2,700 registered voters, showed little difference between partisans, with 86% of Republicans, 80% of Democrats, and 84% of independents in support.
The popularity of term limits for members of Congress can be attributed to several arguments. One of the most popular arguments is that incumbents have too much security in their seats, reducing their need to be responsive to their constituents. This argument was found to be convincing by 87% of respondents, including 90% of Republicans and 84% of Democrats. Term limits are also seen as a way to increase generational diversity in Congress, allowing for the participation of younger citizens and changing the behavior of outgoing members who may feel liberated to vote their conscience rather than the party line.
However, there are also counterarguments against term limits. Some argue that term limits would reduce the amount of experience in Congress and that they do not necessarily increase responsiveness. Additionally, opponents of term limits claim that they would result in unelected individuals, such as lobbyists and staff, having more influence in Congress.
While there is strong public support for term limits, converting this into a constitutional amendment has proven challenging. Since 1787, only 27 amendments have been added to the Constitution. The conventional path to amending the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers of Congress or conventions in two-thirds of the states, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the states or state conventions. Despite the challenges, activists continue to pursue term limits, with some calling for an unprecedented constitutional convention to impose them.
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Frequently asked questions
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina have introduced an amendment to impose term limits on members of Congress. The amendment proposes limiting U.S. Senators to two six-year terms and members of the House of Representatives to three two-year terms. This amendment has been introduced in previous Congresses but has not yet been ratified.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1995 that states cannot impose term limits on their federal representatives or senators. Therefore, a constitutional amendment is required to establish term limits for members of Congress, including senators.
Supporters of term limits argue that it is necessary to ensure that senators remain connected to the people they represent. Term limits can prevent senators from becoming out of touch with the rest of the country and encourage citizen legislators who serve for a short period and then return home. Additionally, term limits can promote accountability and ensure that elected officials understand the concerns of their constituents.
