Bills of Congress January 7, 2025 by U.S. Congress

S.jres1 - Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to limiting the number of terms that a Member of Congress may serve. (119th Congress)

Summary

Senate Joint Resolution 1 proposes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would limit the number of terms a member of Congress may serve. Representatives would be limited to 3 terms, while Senators would be limited to 2 terms. The resolution specifies how partial terms due to vacancies are counted and clarifies that terms served before ratification do not count toward the limit.

Expected Effects

If ratified, this amendment would alter the composition of Congress by regularly cycling out experienced members. This could lead to a decrease in institutional knowledge but potentially increase responsiveness to constituents' concerns.

Potential Benefits

Potentially reduces the influence of long-term incumbents.
May increase opportunities for new candidates and perspectives.
Could lead to greater responsiveness to constituent needs.
Might decrease the potential for corruption or undue influence.
Could foster a more citizen-legislator model.

Potential Disadvantages

Loss of experienced legislators and institutional knowledge.
Potential for increased influence of lobbyists and unelected staff.
Disruption of long-term policy planning and implementation.
Possible decrease in Congressional expertise on complex issues.
May disenfranchise voters by limiting their choices.

Constitutional Alignment

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The resolution aligns with Article V of the U.S. Constitution, which outlines the process for amending the Constitution. It proposes a specific amendment regarding term limits, a subject not explicitly addressed in the original document. The amendment process requires a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the states.