Term limit

A term limit is a provision of a constitution, statute or bylaw which limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. An example would be the 22nd Amendment of the United States Constitution which says that no person can be elected President more than twice. Term limits are a particularly important issue in the United States.

Implementation and legal issues

Congressional term limits featured prominently in the 1994 Republican Contract with America. In 1995, with the Republican Party holding 230 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, a proposed Constitutional amendment imposing term limits failed to get the required two-thirds vote of the House (290 votes), and the concept has subsequently lost popularity.

Related Topics:
Contract with America - Republican Party - U.S. House of Representatives

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In May 1995, the United States Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in US Term Limits, Inc., v. Thornton 514 US 779 (1995) that states cannot impose term limits upon their federal representatives or senators.

Related Topics:
United States Supreme Court - US Term Limits, Inc., v. Thornton

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Several states, most notably California, have imposed term limits upon both their constitutional officers and the people's representatives in their legislature.

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