Congressional Term Limits
Today’s main street media doesn’t have Congressional Term Limits on its agenda, but two house bills have been introduced in January 2025, and are currently stuck in the House Committee on the Judiciary.
The first bill, H.J.Res.5 , whose sponsor is Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), would limit a House Member to 6 two year terms or 12 years, and a Senator to 2 six year terms or 12 years.
The second bill, H.J. Res.12 , whose sponsor is Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC-5), would limit a Senator to 2 terms of 6 years each or 12 years, and a House member to 3 terms of 2 years each or 6 years in total.
I believe that the chances of either, bill making it out of committee is “slim to none.”
For either to become effective, it has to move out of committee and be approved by 2/3 of the members in both the House and Senate. As a Constitutional Amendment, it then must be approved by the legislatures of a minimum of three-fourths (3/4) of the States, within 7 years after the date of submission.
I believe that is a” huge hill to climb.”
The only Federal Branch of Government that has a term limit is in the Executive Branch, the President. He/she is limited to two terms of 4 years each. The Vice-President can serve an unlimited number of terms.
If a President is replaced during his/her term, and if the replacement serves more than two years, then that counts as one term and he/she could only serve one more term of 4 years.
Currently members of the House of Representatives and Senate may serve an unlimited number of terms.
Since the 1940’s, there have been a number of proposed changes introduced in Congress, to limit terms of office, but none have made it into law.
In 1995, the Supreme Court , in a 5-4 decision, ruled that congressional term limits could only be imposed by a “constitutional amendment.”
There are two ways to achieve a constitutional amendment.
The first requires q 2/3 approval by members of both the House and the Senate. Then it must be ratified by three-fourths of the States, within 7 years.
The second involves a constitutional convention, initiated by 2/3 of all state legislatures. Certainly not an easy chore.
Both of these methods face a significant uphill barrier. The coordination to attempt to establish term limits is huge and costly. Also, those currently in office have no interest in discussing or establishing term limits.
A January 2025, Pew Research Report, indicates that 84 House Members, and 33 Senators, are over the age of 70.
In a September 2023 Pew Poll, 87% of adults favored term limits. 56% strongly favored them. There was no difference between Republicans or Democrats.
As of January 2025, the annual salary for a member of the House or Senate amounts to $174,000. The Speaker of the House receives $223,500 while the House and Senate Majority and Minority Leaders receive $193,400.
These salaries are not significant, when you consider the responsibility that these members are entrusted with. However, their retirement is significant, if they have served over 5 years in office. They have a number of retirement programs that they can choose. The limit on retirement is 80% of their final year’s salary.
As of 2022, there were 619 retired Members of Congress receiving a retirement pension. 261 members were receiving an average pension of $85,504 and 358 were receiving an average of $45,276. That is significant compared to the average social security pension.
There are pros and cons concerning term limits. Some believe that members of Congress would be more responsible and include more individuals with real world experience.
Those on the other side, believe that we need the experience base of long standing members. They also believe that term limits would destabilize the legislative branch. Maybe that would be a good thing.
The other key negative is that we have elections, so why do we need term limits.
My response is that we do have elections, but how many actually consider the pluses and minuses when voting? How many really understand, world as well as national politics?
I think few.
Do I think term limits will ever happen? No I don’t.
So what happens is this polarized political world that we live in?
Well, we do have the power. It is called elections! Will we use that power judicially, to ensure a true bi-partisan government, “ a government by the people, for the people.” Only time will tell!
Jess Sweely
Madison, Va.
July 12, 2025
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