Bills · HJRES 12
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House Joint Res.HJRES 12House of RepresentativesCongressional elections
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of terms that a Member of Congress may serve.
INTRO JAN 6· LAST ACTION JAN 6
READING
2MIN
COSPONSORS
115
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenVoters should care about this bill because it addresses the ongoing debate about career politicians versus bringing fresh perspectives into government. If this bill becomes law, it would fundamentally change the nature of political careers in Washington, making it impossible for individuals to serve for many decades, as some currently do. This could lead to a Congress with less accumulated experience but potentially more responsiveness to immediate public concerns, as members would know their time is limited.
If it doesn't become law, the current system remains, allowing elected officials to serve as long as voters continue to elect them. The change could mean more turnover and new ideas, but also a loss of deep expertise and relationships built over time. It could also shift power dynamics, potentially giving more influence to unelected staff or lobbyists if elected officials have less time to develop their own expertise.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Limits Representatives to three 2-year terms, for a total of six years.
This provision would significantly restrict the tenure of House members, promoting more frequent turnover.
PROVISION 02
Limits Senators to two 6-year terms, for a total of twelve years.
This would cap the service of Senators, preventing multi-decade careers in the upper chamber.
PROVISION 03
Establishes rules for how partial terms (filling vacancies) count towards the overall limits.
This clarifies how the limits apply even when members are not elected for a full term.
PROVISION 04
States that terms served before the amendment is ratified do not count towards the new limits.
This ensures the limits would only apply to future service, not retroactively punish current members.
PROVISION 05
Proposes this change as a Constitutional amendment requiring ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures within seven years.
This outlines the challenging but necessary process for such a significant change to federal law.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 115
R· South Carolina
YRS IN OFFICE
9
BILLS LED
22
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 13%
DEM 8 REP 107 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSJAN 6
Introduced in House
JAN 6
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Joint Resolution
NumberHJRES 12
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJan 6, 2025
Last actionJan 6, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · JUDICIARY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JAN 6, 2025
House Joint Res.HJRES 12House of RepresentativesCongressional elections
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of terms that a Member of Congress may serve.
INTRODUCED JAN 6, 2025· LAST ACTION JAN 6, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
2 min
COSPONSORS
115
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
