From Ballotpedia

Leap to: navigation, search

Voting on
Term Limits
Term limits.jpg
Ballot Measures
By state
Past year
Not on ballot

Land legislative
term limits

Gubernatorial
term limits
Lieutenant Governors
term limits
Secretaries of State
term limits
Attorneys General
term limits
State executive
term limits

At that place are a number of term limits to offices in the United States, which restrict the number of terms an private can hold a sure office.

Federal term limits

The Subpoena XXII, Us Constitution says that no person tin can be elected President of the United States more than twice. Term limits are a particularly of import event in the Us.

President George Washington originally started the tradition of informal Presidential term limits past refusing to run for a third term. The short-lived Confederate States of America adopted a six-year term for their President and Vice-President, and barred the President from seeking re-ballot. This innovation was endorsed by many American politicians after the state of war, most notably by Rutherford B. Hayes in his countdown accost. Hayes' proposal did not come up to fruition, merely the government of United mexican states adopted the Amalgamated term and limit for its federal President. Franklin Roosevelt was the commencement and only President to successfully break Washington'due south tradition, and he died in office while serving his fourth term.

Congressional term limits were featured prominently in the Republican Party'south Contract with America in the U.s. Firm 1994 election campaign and may well have contributed to the Republicans gaining control of the The states House of Representatives from the Democratic Party for the get-go time since the United States 1952 elections. The Republican leadership brought to the flooring of the Business firm a ramble subpoena that would limit House members to vi two-twelvemonth terms and members of the Senate to two six-twelvemonth terms. However, this amendment did non proceeds the approving of U.Southward. Term Limits, the largest private organization pushing for Congressional term limits. (U.S. Term Limits wanted Business firm members to be limited to 3 two-year terms.) With the Republicans holding 230 seats in the House, the subpoena did receive a uncomplicated majority in the Firm. Notwithstanding, a two-thirds majority (290 votes) is required to pass a constitutional amendment, and thus the beak failed. The concept subsequently lost momentum by the mid 1990s.

In May 1995, the United States Supreme Courtroom ruled five-four in U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton, that states cannot impose term limits upon their U.South. Representatives or U.S. Senators.

Term limits at the federal level are restricted to the executive branch and some agencies. The U.S. Congress, nonetheless, remains without electoral limits.

State term limits

Term limits for state governors or others inside the state executive co-operative and other high constitutional offices have existed since the beginning of the Us. One of the first such limits of its kind, the Delaware Constitution of 1776, limited the Governor of Delaware to a single three-year term; the governor of Delaware can serve two iv-year terms. As of present, in that location are 36 states have adopted term limits of various types for their governors. One variation allowed a governor to be re-elected, but only to non-consecutive terms. (To circumvent this provision, George Wallace, the governor of Alabama, announced in 1966 that voters should elect his wife, Lurleen Wallace, their next governor. It was clear during the campaign that Mrs. Wallace would be a governor in name only, and thus she was elected the first female governor of Alabama.)

Beginning in the 1990s, term limit laws were imposed on twenty state legislatures through either successful election measures, referenda, legislative acts, or state constitutional changes. The Maine legislature was the get-go state to enact legislative term limits in 1993.

Since 1997, all the same, six 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.

State legislatures with term limits

States with legislative limits
Legislature Limits in effect Year limits imposed Year limits took effect
Arizona Legislature H: 4 terms (8 years)
Southward: 4 terms (eight years) 		1992 H: 2000
S: 2000
Arkansas Legislature 12 sequent years; tin can return after a four-yr suspension 1992, 2014, modified 2020 H: 1998
S: 2000
California Legislature 12 twelvemonth cumulative total, in either or both 1990, modified 2012 A: 1996
Southward: 1998
Colorado Legislature H: 4 terms (eight years)
S: 2 terms (eight years) 		1990 H: 1998
South: 1998
Florida Legislature H: four terms (viii years)
Southward: 2 terms (8 years) 		1992 H: 2000
S: 2000
Louisiana Legislature H: iii terms (12 years)
S: iii terms (12 years) 		1995 H: 2007
Due south: 2007
Maine Legislature H: four terms (viii years)
Due south: 4 terms (viii years) 		1993 H: 1996
S: 1996
Michigan Legislature H: 3 terms (six years)
Southward: ii terms (viii years) 		1992 H: 1998
S: 2002
Missouri Legislature H: 4 terms (viii years)
Due south: 2 terms (viii years) 		Subpoena 13 (1992)
(also see: Amendment iii (2002) 		H: 2002
South: 2002
Montana Legislature H: 4 terms (eight years)
Southward: 2 terms (8 years) 		1992 H: 2000
S: 2000
Nebraska Unicameral S: 2 terms (viii years) 2000 South: 2008
Nevada Legislature A: 6 terms (12 years)
South: three terms (12 years) 		Initiative passed in 1996, took effect with those elected in 1998 A: 2010
S: 2010
Ohio Legislature H: four terms (8 years)
Southward: 2 terms (8 years) 		1992 H: 2000
Due south: 2000
Oklahoma Legislature 12 year cumulative total, in either or both 1990 H: 2004
S: 2004
South Dakota Legislature H: 4 terms (eight years)
S: iv terms (8 years) 		1992 H: 2000
Due south: 2000

Overturned country legislative term limits

The following six legislatures have had their term limits nullified:

  • Idaho Legislature: the Legislature repealed its own term limits in 2002.
  • Massachusetts General Courtroom: the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court overturned term limits in 1997.
  • Oregon Legislative Associates: the Oregon Supreme Courtroom ruled term limits unconstitutional in 2002.
  • Utah Country Legislature: the Legislature repealed its own term limits in 2003.
  • Washington State Legislature: the Washington Supreme Court voided term limits in 1998.
  • Wyoming Legislature: the Wyoming Supreme Courtroom ruled term limits unconstitutional in 2004.

Municipal term limits

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the mayor cannot be elected 3 consecutive times, but there is no limit on how long whatever individual can serve every bit mayor. Frank Rizzo was elected mayor at that place in 1971 and 1975, then tried and failed to get the 3-sequent ban overturned, then could not run for that office in 1979.

Encounter also

  • Term limits
  • List of term limits election measures
  • U.South. Term Limits
  • Eric O'Keefe
  • Paul Jacob

External links

  • National Briefing of Country Legislatures term limits overview