Term limits in the United States

Term limits in the United States apply to many offices at both the federal and state level, and date back to the American Revolution.

Term limits, also referred to as rotation in office, restrict the number of terms of office an officeholder may hold. For example, according to the 22nd Amendment, the President of the United States can serve two four-year terms.

Research shows that legislative term limits increase legislative polarization,[1] reduce the legislative skills of politicians,[2][3][4] reduce the legislative productivity of politicians,[5] weaken legislatures vis-a-vis the executive,[6] and reduce voter turnout.[7] Term limits have not reduced campaign spending,[8] reduced the gender gap in political representation,[9] increased the diversity of law-makers,[10] or increased the constituent service activities of law-makers.[11] Term limits have been linked to lower growth in revenues and expenditures.[12]

Historical background

The Constitution

Term limits can date back to the American Revolution, and prior to that to the democracies and republics of antiquity. The council of 500 in ancient Athens rotated its entire membership annually, as did the ephorate in ancient Sparta. The ancient Roman Republic featured a system of elected magistrates—tribunes of the plebs, aediles, quaestors, praetors, and consuls —who served a single term of one year, with re-election to the same magistracy forbidden for ten years (see cursus honorum). According to historian Garrett Fagan, office holding in the Roman Republic was based on "limited tenure of office" which ensured that "authority circulated frequently", helping to prevent corruption. An additional benefit of the cursus honorum or Run of Offices was to bring the "most experienced" politicians to the upper echelons of power-holding in the ancient republic.[13] Many of the founders of the United States were educated in the classics, and quite familiar with rotation in the office during antiquity. The debates of that day reveal a desire to study and profit from the object lessons offered by ancient democracy.

Prior to independence, several colonies had already experimented with term limits. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut of 1639, for example, prohibited the colonial governor from serving consecutive terms by setting terms at one year's length and holding "that no person be chosen Governor above once in two years."[14] Shortly after independence, the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 set maximum service in the Pennsylvania General Assembly at "four years in seven".[15] Benjamin Franklin's influence is seen not only in that he chaired the constitutional convention which drafted the Pennsylvania constitution, but also because it included, virtually unchanged, Franklin's earlier proposals on executive rotation. Pennsylvania's plural executive was composed of twelve citizens elected for the term of three years, followed by a mandatory vacation of four years.[16]

The Articles of Confederation, adopted in 1781, established term limits for the delegates to the Continental Congress, mandating in Article V that "no person shall be capable of being a delegate for more than three years in any term of six years."[17]

On October 2, 1789, the Continental Congress appointed a committee of thirteen to examine forms of government for the impending union of the states. Among the proposals was that from the State of Virginia, written by Thomas Jefferson, urging a limitation of tenure, "to prevent every danger which might arise to American freedom by continuing too long in office the members of the Continental Congress".[18] The committee made recommendations, which as regards congressional term limits were incorporated unchanged into the Articles of Confederation (1781–89). The fifth Article stated that "no person shall be capable of being a delegate [to the continental congress] for more than three years in any term of six years".[lower-alpha 1]

Term limits in the Constitution

In contrast to the Articles of Confederation, the federal constitution convention at Philadelphia omitted mandatory term limits from the U.S. Constitution of 1789. At the convention, some delegates spoke passionately against term limits such as Rufus King, who said "that he who has proved himself to be most fit for an Office, ought not to be excluded by the constitution from holding it."[19] The Electoral College, it was believed by some delegates at the convention, could have a role to play in limiting unfit officers from continuing.

When the states ratified the Constitution (1787–88), several leading statesmen regarded the lack of mandatory limits to tenure as a dangerous defect, especially, they thought, as regards the presidency and the Senate. Richard Henry Lee viewed the absence of legal limits to tenure, together with certain other features of the Constitution, as "most highly and dangerously oligarchic".[20] Both Jefferson[21] and George Mason[22] advised limits on reelection to the Senate and to the Presidency, because said Mason, "nothing is so essential to the preservation of a Republican government as a periodic rotation". The historian Mercy Otis Warren, warned that "there is no provision for a rotation, nor anything to prevent the perpetuity of office in the same hands for life; which by a little well-timed bribery, will probably be done".[23]

After 1789

Korzi (2013) says George Washington did not set the informal precedent for a two-term limit for the Presidency. He only meant he was too worn out to personally continue in office.[24] It was Thomas Jefferson who made it a principle in 1808. He made many statements calling for term limits in one form or another.[lower-alpha 2]

The tradition was challenged by Ulysses Grant in 1880,[25] and by Theodore Roosevelt in 1912.[26] Otherwise no major effort to avoid it took place until 1940 when Franklin Roosevelt explicitly broke it.[27] The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1951 formally establishing in law the two-term limit—although it did not apply to the incumbent Harry Truman.

The fact that "perpetuity in office" was not approached until the 20th century is due in part to the influence of rotation in office as a popular 19th-century concept. "Ideas are, in truth, forces", and rotation in office enjoyed such normative support, especially at the local level, that it altered political reality.[28][lower-alpha 3]

During the Civil War, the Confederate States Constitution limited its president to a single six-year term.

Era of incumbency

The practice of nomination rotation for the House of Representatives began to decline after the Civil War. It took a generation or so before the direct primary system, civil service reforms, and the ethic of professionalism worked to eliminate rotation in office as a common political practice. By the turn of the 20th century the era of incumbency was coming into full swing.

A total of 8 presidents served two full terms and declined a third and three presidents served one full term and refused a second. After World War II, however, an officeholder class had developed to the point that congressional tenure rivaled that of the U.S. Supreme Court, where tenure is for life.

Term limits movement

"Homesteading," or securing a lifelong career in Congress, was made possible by reelection rates that approached 100% by the end of the 20th century. The concept of homesteading brought about a popular movement known as the "term-limits movement". The elections of 1990–94 saw the adoption of term limits for state legislatures in almost every state where citizens had the power of the initiative. In addition, 23 states limited service in their delegation to Congress. As they pertain to Congress, these laws are no longer enforceable, however, as in 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned congressional term limits in U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton, ruling that state governments cannot limit the terms of members of the national government.[29]

Where rotation in the legislative branch has withstood court challenges, term limits continue to garner popular support. As of 2002, the advocacy group "U.S. Term Limits" found that in the 17 states where state legislators served in rotation, public support for term limits ranged from 60 to 78 percent.[30]

Federal term limits

OfficeTerm limits
President Limited to being elected to a total of 2 four-year terms. A President by succession who completes more than two years of a former President's unfinished term may be elected in their own right only once, and two more four-year terms are permitted if they complete two years or less. Becoming a President by succession may happen to someone an unlimited number of times, for example, if they are Vice President and the President dies, resigns or is removed from office via impeachment conviction.[31]
Vice President Unlimited four-year terms
House of Representatives Unlimited two-year terms
Senate Unlimited six-year terms
Supreme Court No term limits, appointed to serve "during good behavior"[32] (but can be impeached and removed from office for "high Crimes and Misdemeanors"); in practice a Justice serves until death or resignation

As of 2013, term limits at the federal level are restricted to the executive branch and some agencies. Judicial appointments at the federal level are made for life, and are not subject to election or to term limits. The U.S. Congress remains (since the Thornton decision of 1995) without electoral limits.

President

The third president, Thomas Jefferson, started the tradition of presidential term limits by refusing to run for a third term in 1808.[lower-alpha 4] Everything Washington did obviously set a precedent, but did not necessarily set a new policy. However, George Washington's decision in 1796 not to run for a third term has sometimes been given credit as the start of a "tradition" of the strong policy that no president should ever run for a third term.[33] Washington wanted to retire when his first term ended in 1792 but all his advisors begged him to stand for reelection. By 1796 he insisted on retiring, for he felt worn out, and was disgusted with the virulent personal attacks on his integrity. His Farewell Address very briefly mentioned why he would not run for a third term, and goes on to give a great deal of political advice, but it does not mention term limits. After his death, his refusal to run was explained in terms of a "no-third-tradition". Crockett (2008) argues, "The argument for term limits has a solid and respectable pedigree. Contrary to popular belief, however, that pedigree does not begin with George Washington."[34] Jefferson himself attributed the precedent to Washington.[35]

Washington did not feel bound by a two-term limit, but he felt the stability of the republic required a contested presidential election with a choice of candidates. This would not happen if he ran again. If he won and then died, his Vice President would assume the office without having been elected, contrary to the goals of a democratic republic. (In fact, Washington did die in 1799, two years into the new term). The election went forward and he was absolutely neutral between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

In the 1780s, about half the states provided term limits for governors.[36] The Constitutional convention of 1787 discussed the issue and decided not to institute presidential term limits. "The matter was fairly discussed in the Convention," Washington wrote in 1788, "and to my full convictions ... I can see no propriety in precluding ourselves from the services of any man, who on some great emergency shall be deemed universally, most capable of serving the Public", even after serving two terms. The Constitution, Washington explained, retained sufficient checks against political corruption and stagnant leadership without a presidential term limits provision.[37] Jefferson, however, strongly endorsed a policy of term limits. He rejected calls from supporters that he run for a third term in 1808, telling several state legislatures in 1807-1808 that he needed to support "the sound precedent set by [his] illustrious predecessor."[35]

Thomas Jefferson mentioned that Washington retired after serving only two terms, without mentioning that Washington opposed the policy Jefferson was proposing. Crockett argues that Washington "did not intentionally establish the so-called two-term tradition; his departure was motivated by a desire to demonstrate that the country could function without him and to retire to Mount Vernon. He made no principled argument for limiting presidents to two terms, and in fact disagreed with Thomas Jefferson on this point."[34] The "two-term tradition" was created in 1807-1808 and it is often mistakenly suggested Washington had launched the policy.[38]

A political cartoon showing Washington rejecting Theodore Roosevelt's highly controversial run for a third term in 1912

In 1861, the Confederate States of America adopted a six-year term for their president and vice-president and barred the president from seeking re-election. That innovation was endorsed by many American politicians after the Civil War, most notably by Rutherford B. Hayes in his inaugural address. Ulysses Grant was urged to run for a third term in 1876, but he refused. He did try to win the 1880 nomination, but was defeated in part because of anti-third-term sentiment.[39] Theodore Roosevelt had already served over 7 years and in 1912, after a four-year hiatus, ran for a third term. He was violently criticized; indeed, he was almost killed by John Flammang Schrank, who was obsessed with stopping a third term.[40]

In 1940, Franklin D. Roosevelt (president, 1933–1945) became the only president to break the tradition, winning a third term in 1940 and a fourth term in 1944. This gave rise to a successful move to formalize the traditional two-term limit by amending the U.S. Constitution. As ratified in 1951, the Twenty-Second Amendment provides that "no person shall be elected to the office of President more than twice". The new Amendment explicitly did not apply to the incumbent, President Harry S. Truman. However, Truman's close advisors convinced him not to seek a third term regardless, pointing to his age, his failing abilities, and his poor showing in the polls.[41]

Congress

Letter from Senator Orrin Hatch, first elected in 1976, expressing reservations regarding term limits (dated February 10, 2011)

Reformers during the early 1990s used the initiative and referendum to put congressional term limits on the ballot in 24 states. Voters in eight of these states approved the congressional term limits by an average electoral margin of two to one.[42] It was an open question whether states had the constitutional authority to enact these limits. In May 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5–4 in U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton, 514 U.S. 779 (1995), that states cannot impose term limits upon their federal Representatives or Senators.

In the 1994 elections, part of the Republican platform included legislation for term limits in Congress. After winning the majority, a Republican congressman brought a constitutional amendment to the House floor that proposed limiting members of the Senate to two six-year terms and members of the House to six two-year terms.[43] However, this rate of rotation was so slow (the life-tenured Supreme Court averages in the vicinity of twelve years) that the congressional version of term-limits garnered little support among the populist backers of term limits, including U.S. Term Limits, the largest private organization pushing for congressional term limits.[lower-alpha 5] The bill got only a bare majority (227–204), falling short of the two-thirds majority (290) needed for constitutional amendments.[44] Three other term limit amendment bills failed to get more than 200 votes.[lower-alpha 6]

Defeated in Congress and overridden by the Supreme Court, the federal term limit movement was brought to a halt. The term limits intended simultaneously to reform state legislatures (as distinguished from the federal congressional delegations) remain in force, however, in fifteen states.[45][46]

In 2007 Larry J. Sabato revived the debate over term limits by arguing in A More Perfect Constitution that the success and popularity of term limits at the state level suggests that they should be adopted at the federal level as well. He specifically put forth the idea of congressional term limits and suggested a national constitutional convention be used to accomplish the amendment, since the Congress would be unlikely to propose and adopt any amendment that limits its own power.

Some state legislators have also expressed their opinions on term limits. It is confirmed that in the following five states—and there may be others—state lawmakers approved resolutions asking Congress to propose a federal constitutional amendment to limit the number of terms which members of Congress may serve:

  1. South Dakota Legislature (designated as POM-42 in the U.S. Senate) approved in 1989, South Dakota House Joint Resolution No. 1001 (see Congressional Record of April 4, 1989, at pages 5395 and 5396, with verbatim text provided);
  2. Hawaii Senate (designated as Memorial 400 in the U.S. House of Representatives) approved in 1990, Hawaii Senate Resolution No. 41—unicameral only (see Congressional Record of September 28, 1998, at page 22655) it took 8 years for this resolution to find its way into the Congressional Record and to be correctly referred to the Committee on the Judiciary—and even then, its text was not provided in the Congressional Record); back in 1990, Hawaii's S.R. No. 41 was indeed received by the U.S. House of Representatives, and was designated as Memorial 416, (Congressional Record of June 6, 1990, at pages 13262 and 13263) but the resolution was erroneously referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce—and its text is NOT provided in the Congressional Record;
  3. Utah Legislature (designated as POM-644 in the U.S. Senate) approved in 1990, Utah Senate Joint Resolution No. 24 (see Congressional Record of September 27, 1994, at page 26033, with verbatim text provided) it took four years for this resolution to find its way into the U.S. Senate's portion of the Congressional Record;
  4. Idaho Legislature (designated as Memorial 401 in the U.S. House of Representatives) approved in 1992, Idaho Senate Joint Memorial No. 116 (see Congressional Record of April 29, 1992, at page 9804—text NOT provided in the Congressional Record); and
  5. Florida Legislature (designated as POM-122 in the U.S. Senate) approved in 2012, Florida House Memorial No. 83 (see Congressional Record of July 25, 2012, at page S5378, with verbatim text provided). Taking matters a bit further, on February 10, 2016, Florida lawmakers approved House Memorial No. 417 calling upon Congress, pursuant to Article V of the Federal Constitution, to assemble a Convention to prepare a constitutional amendment that would establish term limits upon members of Congress.

Supreme Court

Legal scholars have discussed whether or not to impose term limits on the Supreme Court of the United States. Currently, Supreme Court Justices are appointed for life "during good behavior". A sentiment has developed, among certain scholars, that the Supreme Court may not be accountable in a way that is most in line with the spirit of checks and balances.[47] Equally, scholars have argued that life tenure has taken on a new meaning in a modern context.[48] Changes in medical care have markedly raised life expectancy and therefore has allowed Justices to serve for longer than ever before.[47][48] Steven G. Calebresi and James Lindgren, professors of law at Northwestern University, argued that because vacancies in the court are occurring with less frequency and justices served on average 26.1 years between 1971 and 2006, the "efficacy of the democratic check that the appointment process provides on the Court's membership" is reduced.[47] There have been several similar proposals to implement term limits for the nation's highest court, including Professor of Law at Duke University Paul Carrington's "Supreme Court Renewal Act of 2005".[49]

Many of the proposals center around a term limit for Justices that would be 18 years to 25 years old. (Larry Sabato, Professor of Political Science at University of Virginia, suggested between 15 and 18 years).[47][48][49][50] The staggered term limits of 18 years proposed by Calebresi & Lindgren (2006) and Carrington & Cramton (2005) would allow for a new appointment to the Court every two years, which in effect would allow every president at least two appointments.[48] Carrington has argued that such a measure would not require a constitutional amendment as the "Constitution doesn’t even mention life tenure; it merely requires that justices serve during ‘good behaviour’ ".[48] The idea was endorsed among Judges, as John Roberts supported term limits before he was appointed to the Supreme Court as Chief Justice. Calebresi, Lingren, and Carrington have also proposed that when justices have served out their proposed 18-year term they should be able to sit on other Federal Courts until retirement, death, or removal.[47][48]

Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind Poll measured American voters’ attitudes towards various proposed Supreme Court reforms, including implementing term limits. The 2010 poll found that a majority of Americans were largely unaware of a proposal to impose a term limit of 18 years, as 82% reported they had heard little or nothing at all.[51] Notwithstanding a lack of awareness, 52% of Americans approved of limiting terms to 18 years, while 35% disapproved.[51] When asked how old is too old for a Supreme Court judge to serve if he seems healthy, 48% said "no limit as long as he is healthy", while 31% agreed that anyone over the age of 70 is too old.[51]

Some state lawmakers have officially expressed to Congress a desire for a federal constitutional amendment to limit terms of Supreme Court justices as well as of judges of federal courts below the Supreme Court level. While there might be others, below are three known examples:

  1. In 1957, the Alabama Legislature adopted Senate Joint Resolution No. 47 on the subject (appearing in the U.S. Senate's portion of the Congressional Record on July 3, 1957, at page 10863, with full text provided);
  2. In 1978, the Tennessee General Assembly adopted House Joint Resolution No. 21 on the subject (designated as POM-612 by the U.S. Senate and quoted in full in the Congressional Record of April 25, 1978, at page 11437); and
  3. In 1998, the Louisiana House of Representatives adopted House Resolution No. 120 on the subject (designated as POM-511 by the U.S. Senate and quoted in full in the Congressional Record of July 17, 1998, at page 16076).

State term limits

Term limits for state officials have existed since colonial times. The Pennsylvania Charter of Liberties of 1682, and the colonial frame of government of the same year, both authored by William Penn, provided for triennial rotation of the provincial council—the upper house of the colonial legislature.[52] The Delaware Constitution of 1776 limited the governor to a single three-year term; currently, the governor of Delaware can serve two four-year terms.

At present, 37 states have term limits of various types for their governors. To circumvent the term limit in Alabama incumbent governor George Wallace pushed through the nomination of his wife Lurleen, in the 1966 Democratic primary, which was, in those days, the real contest in Alabama. It was generally understood that Mrs. Wallace would only be a titular governor while her husband continued to hold the real power. She won the election, but only served 16 months before dying in 1968.

As indicated above, in fifteen state legislatures the members serve in rotation, i.e., under term limits enacted during the reforms of the early 1990s. In another six states, however, state legislatures have either overturned their own limits or state supreme courts have ruled such limits unconstitutional. In 2002 the Idaho Legislature became the first legislature of its kind to repeal its own term limits, enacted by a public vote in 1994, ostensibly because it applied to local officials along with the legislature.

Gubernatorial term limits

U.S. gubernatorial term limits as of 2014

Governors of 38 states[53] and four territories are subject to various term limits, while the governors of 14 states, Puerto Rico, and the Mayor of Washington, D.C., may serve an unlimited number of terms. Each state's gubernatorial term limits are prescribed by its state constitution, with the exception of Wyoming, whose limits are found in its statutes. Territorial term limits are prescribed by its constitution in the Northern Mariana Islands, the Organic Acts in Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and by statute in American Samoa.

Unique in its restriction, Virginia prohibits its governors from serving consecutive terms, although former governors are reeligible after four years out of office.[54] Many other states formerly had this prohibition, but all had eliminated it by 2000.

The governors of the following states and territories are limited to two consecutive terms, but are reeligible after four years out of office: Alabama,[55] Alaska,[56] Arizona,[57] Colorado,[58] Florida,[59] Georgia,[60] Hawaii,[61] Kansas,[62] Kentucky,[63] Louisiana,[64] Maine,[65] Maryland,[66] Nebraska,[67] New Jersey,[68] New Mexico,[69] North Carolina,[70] Ohio,[71] Pennsylvania,[72] Rhode Island,[73] South Carolina,[74] South Dakota,[75] Tennessee,[76] West Virginia,[77] American Samoa,[78] Guam,[79] and the U.S. Virgin Islands.[80]

Equivalently, the Governors of Indiana[81] and Oregon[82] are limited to serving 8 out of any 12 years. Conversely, the Governors of Montana[83] and Wyoming[84] are limited to two terms, serving 8 out of any 16 years.

Finally, the governors of the following states and territory are limited to two terms for life: Arkansas,[85] California,[86] Delaware,[87] Michigan,[88] Mississippi,[89] Missouri,[90] Nevada,[91] the Northern Mariana Islands,[92] and Oklahoma.[93] Former Governor of California Jerry Brown, however, served four non-consecutive terms because his first two terms were before limits were passed in California, and the limits did not apply to individuals' prior terms.

The governors of New Hampshire and Vermont may serve unlimited two-year terms. The governors (or equivalent) in the following states, district, and territory may serve unlimited four-year terms: Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The Governor of Utah was previously limited to serving three terms, but all term limit laws have since been repealed by the legislature.

State legislatures with term limits

The following 15 legislatures have term limits:

  • Arizona Legislature: four consecutive two-year terms for both houses (eight years). No limit on total number of terms.
  • Arkansas General Assembly: sixteen years total in either the House or the Senate. (Prior to the 2014 election, the previous limits of three two-year terms for House members (six years) and two four-year terms for Senate members (eight years) applied).
  • California State Legislature: twelve years total in either Assembly or Senate. (For legislators first elected on or before June 5, 2012, the previous limits (enacted in 1990) of either three two-year terms for Assembly members (six years) and two four-year terms for Senate members (eight years) apply).
  • Colorado General Assembly: four consecutive two-year terms in the House (eight years) and two consecutive four-year terms in the Senate (eight years).
  • Florida Legislature: may serve no more than eight consecutive years in either house. No limit on total number of terms.
  • Illinois Senate: Senate Presidents and Minority Leaders may not serve for more than 10 years.[94]
  • Louisiana State Legislature: three consecutive four-year terms for both houses (twelve years). Members may run for the opposite body without having to sit out an election.
  • Maine Legislature: four two-year terms for both houses (eight years). No limit on total number of terms
  • Michigan Legislature: three two-year terms for House members (six years) and two four-year terms for Senate members (eight years).
  • Missouri General Assembly: four consecutive two-year terms for House members (eight years) and two four-year consecutive terms for Senate members (eight years). Members may be elected again to the other house, but not serve more than 16 years.
  • Montana State Legislature: four two-year terms for House members (eight years) in any sixteen-year period and two four-year terms for Senate members (eight years) in any sixteen-year period.
  • Nebraska Legislature: unicameral legislature; members limited to two consecutive four-year terms (eight years), after which they must wait four years before running again.[95]
  • Nevada Legislature: six two-year terms for Assembly members (twelve years) and three four-year terms for Senate members (twelve years).
  • Ohio General Assembly: four consecutive two-year terms for House members (eight years) and two consecutive four-year terms for Senate members (eight years).
  • Oklahoma Legislature: Twelve years of total combined service in either the House or the Senate. If a legislator's first term is the result of a special election, that service does not count toward the limit.[96]
  • South Dakota Legislature: four consecutive two-year terms for both houses (eight years).

Overturned or repealed state legislative term limits

The following six legislatures have had their term limits nullified:

Municipal term limits

Some local governments have term limits. In Philadelphia, the mayor cannot be elected three consecutive times, but there is no limit on how long any individual can serve as mayor. Frank Rizzo was elected mayor in 1971 and 1975; he attempted to repeal the term limit, but failed and could not run in 1979. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for mayor in 1983 but he lost to Wilson Goode. In 1986, he switched to the Republican Party, and ran as a Republican in the mayoral elections of 1987 and 1991.

Limits vary from city to city even within the same state. For example, Houston, Texas, has a limit of 2 four-year terms (prior to November 3, 2015, 3 two-year terms dating back to 1991), while San Antonio, Texas, has a limit of 4 two-year terms. Both Houston and San Antonio's term limits are absolute; elected officeholders are ineligible to run for the same position where seeking higher office is common.

A two-term limit was imposed on New York City Council members and citywide elected officials (except for district attorneys) in New York City after a 1993 referendum (see the Charter of the City of New York, § 1138). On November 3, 2008, however, when Michael Bloomberg was in his second term of mayor, the City Council approved the extension of the two-term limit to a three-term limit; one year later, he was elected to a third term. The two-term limit was reinstated after a referendum in 2010.[97][98]

In Los Angeles the mayor serves up to two four-year terms since 1993, while the City Council serve up to three four-year terms.

In Cincinnati, Ohio, the term limit for mayor is two successive four-year terms. Council members are limited to two successive four-year terms. There is no limit to total terms that may be served, just a limit on successive terms.

In New Orleans, City Council members are limited to two four-year terms. However, a council member representing one of the five council districts may run for one of the two at-large seats on the council once they reach the two-term limit, and vice versa. There is no limit on the number of terms a council member may serve in a lifetime. Since 1954, the mayor of New Orleans has been limited to two consecutive four-year elected terms, but he may be elected again after sitting out one four-year term. When the new city plan of government was adopted, the mayor at the time, DeLesseps Story Morrison, was exempt from term limits due to a grandfather clause.

Under the original Metropolitan Charter adopted in 1962, the mayor of Nashville was limited to three consecutive four-year terms, which was subsequently reduced to two consecutive four-year terms in 1991. Councilors were likewise limited to two consecutive four-year terms, but subsequent court rulings have determined the offices of district councilor and at-large councilor to be separate offices even though all councilors serve together in one unicameral body, which has meant that at large councilors have continued in office as district members, and (more frequently) district councilors have been elected to subsequent terms as at large councilors.

Impact

Research shows that legislative term limits increase legislative polarization,[1] reduce the legislative skills of politicians,[2][3][4] reduce the legislative productivity of politicians,[5] weaken legislatures vis-a-vis the executive,[6] and reduce voter turnout.[7] Parties respond to the implementation of term limits by recruiting candidates for office on more partisan lines.[99] States that implement term limits in the state legislatures are associated with also developing more powerful House speakers.[100]

Term limits have not reduced campaign spending,[8] reduced the gender gap in political representation,[9] increased the diversity of law-makers,[10] and increased the constituent service activities of law-makers.[11]

gollark: Same issue.
gollark: That would very not satisfy my values.
gollark: No.
gollark: That does not satisfy my values.
gollark: No.

See also

References

Notes

  1. Article IX, paragraph 5, of the Articles of Confederation provided that, "no person be allowed to serve in the office of president more than one year in any term of four years."
  2. See Family Guardian, "Thomas Jefferson on Politics & Government".
  3. For a detailed study of the 19th-century concepts of rotation, consult Struble Jr (1979–1980, p. 650). See also Struble Jr (2010); Young (1966).
  4. Korzi (2013, p. 43) notes it is a mistake to credit George Washington.
  5. U.S. Term Limits wanted House members to be limited to three two-year terms.
  6. The four constitutional amendments on term limits which the House rejected 29 March 1995 were sponsored by: Democrat John Dingell [12/12 retroactive], rejected 135–297; Republican Bob Inglis [6/12, not retroactive], rejected 114–316; Republican Van Hilleary [12/12, unretroactive, but defers to more stringent state imposed limits], rejected 164–265; Republican Bill McCollum [12/12 not retroactive and would override more stringent state limits]; approved by less than the requisite 2/3, 227–204; on February 12, 1997 Congress did likewise by a margin of 217–211 [50.7%].

Citations

  1. Olson, Michael; Rogowski, Jon C (2019-10-11). "Legislative Term Limits and Polarization". The Journal of Politics: 000. doi:10.1086/706764. ISSN 0022-3816.
  2. Sarbaugh-Thompson, Marjorie; Thompson, Lyke; Elder, Charles D.; Comins, Meg; Elling, Richard C.; Strate, John (2006-12-01). "Democracy among Strangers: Term Limits' Effects on Relationships between State Legislators in Michigan". State Politics & Policy Quarterly. 6 (4): 384–409. doi:10.1177/153244000600600402. ISSN 1532-4400.
  3. Burgat, Casey (2018-01-18). "Five reasons to oppose congressional term limits". Brookings. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  4. "Post". Mischiefs of Faction. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  5. "How do electoral incentives affect legislator behavior?". LegBranch. 2018-06-19. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  6. "Adapting to Term Limits: Recent Experiences and New Directions". Public Policy Institute of California. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  7. Nalder, Kimberly (2007). "The Effect of State Legislative Term Limits on Voter Turnout". State Politics & Policy Quarterly. 7 (2): 187–210. doi:10.1177/153244000700700207. ISSN 1532-4400. JSTOR 40421578.
  8. Masket, Seth E.; Lewis, Jeffrey B. (2007-03-01). "A Return to Normalcy? Revisiting the Effects of Term Limits on Competitiveness and Spending in California Assembly Elections". State Politics & Policy Quarterly. 7 (1): 20–38. doi:10.1177/153244000700700102. ISSN 1532-4400.
  9. Carroll, Susan J.; Jenkins, Krista (2001). "Do Term Limits Help Women Get Elected?". Social Science Quarterly. 82 (1): 197–201. doi:10.1111/0038-4941.00017. ISSN 1540-6237.
  10. Carey, John M.; Niemi, Richard G.; Powell, Lynda W.; Moncrief, Gary F. (2006). "The Effects of Term Limits on State Legislatures: A New Survey of the 50 States". Legislative Studies Quarterly. 31 (1): 105–134. doi:10.3162/036298006X201742. ISSN 1939-9162.
  11. VanDusky‐Allen, Julie (2014). "The Conditional Effect of Term Limits on Electoral Activities". Politics & Policy (in Spanish). 42 (3): 431–458. doi:10.1111/polp.12072. ISSN 1747-1346.
  12. Holcombe, Randall G.; Gmeiner, Robert J. (2019). "Term limits and state budgets". www.ingentaconnect.com. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  13. Fagan, Garrett G. (2003) [1999]. The History of Ancient Rome (DVD). The Great Courses. The Teaching Company. ...Office-holding at Rome was based on two important concepts: collegiality and limited tenure of office...
  14. "Fundamental Orders of Connecticut". avalon.law.yale.edu. Yale Law School Lillian Goldman Law Library. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  15. "Constitution of Pennsylvania - September 28, 1776; section 8". avalon.law.yale.edu. Yale Law School Lillian Goldman Law Library.
  16. "Constitution of Pennsylvania - September 28, 1776; section 19". avalon.law.yale.edu. Yale Law School Lillian Goldman Law Library. On Franklin's plan of 1775, see Smyth, Albert Henry, ed. (1907). The Writings of Benjamin Franklin. 6. New York: Macmillan. page 423, article 9.
  17. "Articles of Confederation: March 1, 1781". The Avalon Project. Yale Law School Lillian Goldman Law Library. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  18. Boyd 1950, vol. 1, p. 411
  19. Crane, Edward H.; Pilon, Roger, eds. (1994). The Politics and Law of Term Limits. Washington, DC: Cato Institute. p. 62. ISBN 9781882577132.
  20. Ballagh (1911, Letter to Edmund Randolph dated 16 October 1787: vol 2, pp. 450-455). See also Ballagh (1911, Letter to Edmund Pendleton dated 12 May 1776: vol. 1, p.191); Bennett, Walter H., ed. (1978). Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican. University of Alabama Press. pp. 72–75, 86.
  21. Boyd 1950, vol. 12 p. 440; vol. 13 p. 490. See also Boyd 1950, vol. 15 p. 25 for Jefferson's definition of rotation in office.
  22. Eliot, Jonathan, ed. (1836). The Debates in the Several State Conventions on Adoption of the Federal Constitution. 3. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. p. 485.
  23. Otis Warren, Mercy (1981). "Observations on the new Constitution, and on the Federal and State Conventions 9". In Staring, Herbert J. (ed.). The Complete Anti-Federalist. 4. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 270–278.
  24. Korzi 2013, pp. 43–44.
  25. Stein 1943, pp. 71-116.
  26. Stein 1943, pp. 144-222.
  27. Stein 1943, pp. 317-340.
  28. (Struble Jr 1979–1980, p.650, footnote 6). The quotation is from Henry James, the biographer.
  29. U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton. The decision was 5–4.
  30. Rumenap, Stacie (August 2002). "Career Politicians Never Did Like Term Limits". No Uncertain Terms. Vol. 10 no. 7. pp. 2–3.
  31. Dorf, Michael C. (2 August 2000). "Why the Constitution permits a Gore-Clinton ticket". CNN Interactive.
    Gant, Scott E.; Peabody, Bruce G. (2006-06-13). "How to bring back Bill". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
  32. "Transcript of the Constitution of the United States – Official Text". Archives.gov. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
  33. Dunn, Susan (2013). 1940: FDR, Willkie, Lindbergh, Hitler-the Election amid the Storm. Yale UP. p. 129. ISBN 978-0300195132.
  34. Crockett 2008, p. 710.
  35. Bailey, Jeremy D. (2007). Thomas Jefferson and Executive Power. p. 124. ISBN 9781139466295.
  36. Korzi 2009, p. 365.
  37. Peabody 2001, p. 442.
  38. Peabody 2001, pp. 446-448.
  39. Truesdale, Dorothy S. (1940). "Rochester Views the Third Term 1880" (PDF). Rochester History. 2 (4): 1–20.
  40. McNeese, Tim (2007). The Progressive Movement: Advocating Social Change. Infobase Publishing. pp. 110–111. ISBN 9781438106366.
  41. Hamby, Alonzo L. (1995). Man of the People: A Life of Harry S. Truman. pp. 602–605.
  42. Priest, Dana; Claiborne, William (November 9, 1994). "Voters in Several States, D.C. Adopt Limits For Legislators". The Washington Post.
  43. H.J.Res. 73, 104th Congress
  44. "H.J.Res. 73 (104th): Contract with America bill (On Passage of the Bill), House Vote #277". GovTrack.us. March 29, 1995. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  45. "State Legislative Term Limits". US Term Limits. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  46. Pinney, Neil; Serra, George; Sprick, Dalene (January 2004). "The costs of reform: consequences of limiting legislative terms of service". Party Politics. 10 (1): 69–84. doi:10.1177/1354068804039121.
  47. Calebresi, Steven G.; Lindgren, James (2006). "Term Limits for the Supreme Court: Life Tenure Reconsidered". Harvard Journal of Public Policy. 29 (3) via Social Science Research Network.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  48. Brust, Richard (October 1, 2008). "Supreme Court 2.0". ABA Connection.
  49. Carrington, Paul; Cramton, Roger C. "Supreme Court Renewal Act: A Return to Basic Principles". paulcarrington.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2005.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  50. Sabato, Larry J. (April 15, 1010). "Reforming the Least Democratic Branch". Sabato's Crystal Ball: University of Virginia Center for Politics.
  51. Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind Poll, "Public Says Televising Court is Good for Democracy" press release (March 2010).
  52. Francis N. Thorpe, ed., The Federal and State Constitutions, Colonial Charters, and other Organic Laws..., 7 vols. (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1909) 5:3048, 3055–56, 3065.
  53. https://ballotpedia.org/States_with_gubernatorial_term_limits. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  54. "Constitution of Virginia". Virginia Constitution. pp. Article V, § 1. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  55. "AMENDMENT 282 RATIFIED". Alabama Constitution. pp. Amendment 282. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  56. "Article 3 – The Executive". Alaska Constitution. pp. Article 3, § 5. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  57. "1. Term limits on executive department and state officers; term lengths; election; residence and office at seat of government; duties". Arizona Constitution. pp. Article 5, § 1 Version 2, clause A. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  58. "Section 1. Officers – terms of office". Colorado Constitution. pp. Article IV, § 1. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  59. "The Florida Constitution". Florida Constitution. pp. Article IV, § 5, clause b. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  60. "Constitution of the State of Georgia" (PDF). Georgia Constitution. pp. Article V, § I, Paragraph I. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  61. "ARTICLE V". Hawaii Constitution. pp. Article V, § 1. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  62. "Article 1. – EXECUTIVE". Kansas Constitution. pp. Article 1, § 1. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  63. "Section 71". Kentucky Constitution. pp. § 71. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  64. "ARTICLE IV. EXECUTIVE BRANCH". Louisiana Constitution. pp. Article IV, § 3, Clause B. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  65. "Maine Constitution Article V. – Part First. Executive Power". Maine Constitution. pp. Article V, part 1, § 2. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  66. "ARTICLE II – EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT". Maryland Constitution. pp. Article II, § 1. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  67. "Article IV-1". Nebraska Constitution. pp. Article IV, § 1. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  68. "NEW JERSEY STATE CONSTITUTION 1947". New Jersey Constitution. pp. Article V, § I, paragraph 5. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  69. "Section 1. [Composition of department; terms of office of members; residing and maintaining records at seat of government.]". New Mexico Constitution. pp. Article V, § 1. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  70. "ARTICLE III EXECUTIVE". North Carolina Constitution. pp. Article III, § 2, clause 2. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  71.  3.02 Term of office". Ohio Constitution. pp. Article III, § 2. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  72. "CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA". Pennsylvania Constitution. pp. Article IV, § 3. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  73. "ARTICLE IV OF ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE". Rhode Island Constitution. pp. Article IV, § 1. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  74. "ARTICLE IV. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT". South Carolina Constitution. pp. Article IV, § 3. Archived from the original on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  75.  2". South Dakota Constitution. pp. Article IV, § 2. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  76. "Tennessee constitution – article iii. executive department". Tennessee Constitution. pp. Article III, § 4. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  77. "Constitution of West Virginia". West Virginia Constitution. pp. Article VII, § 4. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  78. "Title 4 EXECUTIVE". American Samoa Code. pp. § 4.0107. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  79.  1422. Governor and Lieutenant Governor; term of office; qualifications; powers and duties; annual report to Congress". United States Code. pp. Title 48, § 1422. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  80.  1591. Governor and Lieutenant Governor; election; eligibility; official residence; powers and duties; report". United States Code. pp. Title 48, § 1591. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  81. "ARTICLE 5". Indiana Constitution. pp. Article V, § 1. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  82. "Constitution of Oregon". Oregon Constitution. pp. Article V, § 1. Archived from the original on 5 February 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  83. "Montana Constitution". pp. Article IV, § 8. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  84. "CHAPTER 5 – NOMINATIONS". Wyoming Statutes. pp. § 22–5–103. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  85. "Amend. 73. Arkansas Term Limitation Amendment" (PDF). Arkansas Constitution. p. 134. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  86. "CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION ARTICLE 5 EXECUTIVE". California Constitution. pp. Article 5, § 2. Archived from the original on 8 January 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  87. "ARTICLE. III EXECUTIVE". Delaware Constitution. pp. Article III, § 5. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  88. "Michigan Constitution" (PDF). pp. Article V, § 30. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  89. "THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI". Mississippi Constitution. pp. Article 5, § 116. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  90. "Article IV EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT Section 17". Missouri Constitution. pp. Article IV, § 17. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  91. "THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEVADA". Nevada Constitution. pp. Article 5, § 3. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  92. "ARTICLE III: EXECUTIVE BRANCH". Northern Mariana Islands Constitution. pp. Article III, § 4. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  93. "SECTION VI-4 Terms of office – Succession" (RTF). Oklahoma Constitution. pp. Article VI, § 4. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  94. "Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SR0003". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  95. "Frequently Asked Questions About Senators". Archived 2014-07-01 at the Wayback Machine Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved 27 May 2015. Archived 2 April 2015 at Wayback Machine.
  96. Oklahoma Constitution Article 5 Section 17A
  97. "Term limits will land on city ballot in Nov". New York Post. 12 August 2010.
  98. Hernandez, Javier C. (3 November 2010). "Term Limits in New York City Are Approved Again". The New York Times.
  99. Masket, Seth; Shor, Boris (2015-03-01). "Polarization without Parties: Term Limits and Legislative Partisanship in Nebraska's Unicameral Legislature". State Politics & Policy Quarterly. 15 (1): 67–90. doi:10.1177/1532440014564984. ISSN 1532-4400.
  100. Shay, Laine P. (2020). "Do Term Limits "Limit" the Speaker? Examining the Effects of Legislative Term Limits on State Speaker Power". State Politics & Policy Quarterly: 1532440020947643. doi:10.1177/1532440020947643. ISSN 1532-4400.

Bibliography

  • Bailey, Harry A. (1972). "Presidential Tenure and the Two-Term Tradition". Publius. 2 (2): 95–106. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.pubjof.a038259. JSTOR 3329550.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Ballagh, James C., ed. (1911). The Letters of Richard Henry Lee. Two volumes. New York: Macmillan.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Boyd, Julian F., ed. (1950). The Papers of Thomas Jefferson. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Crockett, David A. (2008). "An Excess of Refinement: Lame Duck Presidents in Constitutional and Historical Context". Presidential Studies Quarterly. 38 (4): 707–721. doi:10.1111/j.1741-5705.2008.02673.x.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Korzi, Michael J. (2009). "Changing Views of Executive Tenure in Early American History". White House Studies. 8 (3): 357–379.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Korzi, Michael J. (2013). Presidential Term Limits in American History: Power, Principles, and Politics. Texas A&M University Publishing. ISBN 9781603449915.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Stein, Charles W. (1943). The Third-Term Tradition: Its Rise and Collapse in American Politics. New York: Columbia University Press.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Struble Jr, Robert (Winter 1979–1980). "House Turnover and the Principle of Rotation" (PDF). Political Science Quarterly. 94. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-10-11.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Struble Jr, Robert (2010). "Rotation in Office, and other democratic reforms". Treatise on Twelve Lights. Archived from the original on 2016-04-11.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Young, James S. (1966). The Washington Community, 1800–1828. New York: Columbia University Press.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Further reading

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.