Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of consecutive terms that a Member of Congress may serve.
- Bill Number
- H.J.Res. 120
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-11: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-24T13:37:45Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.J. Res. 120
Purpose
This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to limit the number of consecutive terms that members of Congress may serve in the Senate or House of Representatives.
Key Provisions
- Section 1: A person who has served two consecutive terms as a Senator becomes ineligible for election or appointment to the Senate until one year after the end of the second term.
- Section 2: A person who has served five consecutive terms as a Representative becomes ineligible for election to the House until one year after the end of the fifth term.
- Section 3: Partial terms served to fill vacancies do not count toward the consecutive term limit unless the period exceeds three years for Senators or one year for Representatives.
- Section 4: Any terms served before the amendment's ratification do not count toward the consecutive term limits.
- The amendment requires ratification by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states within seven years of submission.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The U.S. Constitution currently contains no limits on the number of consecutive terms members of Congress may serve.
- This proposal would introduce new restrictions on Senate service after two terms and House service after five terms, with a one-year waiting period before eligibility resumes.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: The change could lead to higher turnover in Congress, potentially affecting legislative continuity and committee expertise.
- On citizens: Voters might experience more frequent elections and new candidates, though the limits apply only to consecutive service and allow reelection after the waiting period.
- On international relations: No direct effects are outlined in the resolution.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Current and future members of the Senate and House of Representatives.
- State legislatures, which must approve the amendment for it to take effect.
- Voters and political parties, due to changes in candidate eligibility and election dynamics.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The proposal follows the standard constitutional amendment process under Article V, requiring two-thirds approval in both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states.
- It raises questions about balancing legislative experience with limits on long-term incumbency.
- The one-year cooling-off period and exclusion of pre-ratification terms and certain vacancy service represent specific design choices to address partial terms and transition.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-11: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-09-11: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of consecutive terms that a Member of Congress may serve. — issued 2025-09-11 — PDF (2 pages)