119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. ____

A BILL

To establish term limits for members of the United States Congress.

Mr./Ms. [Sponsor's Name] (for him/herself and [co-sponsors]) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on [Committee Name].

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the "Term Limits for Members of Congress Act."

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

(a) Findings: Congress finds that—

1. Limiting the terms of elected officials will promote new ideas and perspectives in legislative processes.
2. Term limits will enhance the ability of Congress to respond to the changing needs of the American people.

(b) Purpose: The purpose of this Act is to establish term limits for members of the United States Congress to ensure a continuous infusion of fresh perspectives and to prevent the establishment of political dynasties.

SEC. 3. TERM LIMITS FOR SENATE.

(a) In General: Section 3 of the United States Constitution is amended by adding at the end the following new clause:

“No person who has served two terms as a Senator shall be eligible for election or appointment to the Senate. For purposes of this clause, a term shall include any period of service as a Senator, even if it is for a single day.”

(b) Interim Service: Any interim or acting period of service, even if it is for a single day, shall be considered a full term for the purposes of this clause.

SEC. 4. TERM LIMITS FOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(a) In General: Section 2 of the United States Constitution is amended by adding at the end the following new clause:

“No person who has served four terms as a Representative shall be eligible for election to the House of Representatives. For purposes of this clause, a term shall include any period of service as a Representative, even if it is for a single day.”

(b) Interim Service: Any interim or acting period of service, even if it is for a single day, shall be considered a full term for the purposes of this clause.

SEC. 5. RE-ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTION.

(a) In General: No person who has reached the term limits set forth in Sections 3 and 4 shall be eligible to run for, be elected to, or be appointed to the same office again, even after a break in service.

(b) Exceptions: In extenuating circumstances, a person who has served between one day and less than one year may be eligible to serve one additional term if:

i. The exception is approved by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate, or;
ii. The exception is granted through an Executive action, subject to judicial review by the Supreme Court to ensure it aligns with the spirit of the law.

SEC. 6. TRANSITION BETWEEN CHAMBERS.

(a) In General: Transitioning from one chamber of Congress to another (e.g., from the House to the Senate) shall not reset the term limits established by this Act.

SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.

(a) In General: This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect immediately upon ratification, which must occur within six months from the date of enactment, and apply to all individuals elected or appointed to the Senate or House of Representatives after the date of enactment.

(b) Existing Members: No term served prior to the enactment of this Act shall be counted for purposes of the limitations established by this Act. However, current members who have already served terms may only serve one additional term if their current tenure exceeds the limits specified.

SEC. 8. MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT.

(a) Monitoring: The Office of Congressional Ethics, in coordination with an independent external body, shall monitor compliance with the term limits established by this Act.

(b) Selection of Independent External Body:

i. The independent external body shall be composed of experts in ethics, law, and public administration.
ii. Members of the independent external body shall be nominated by a bipartisan committee consisting of an equal number of members from both the House and the Senate.
iii. The nominations shall be subject to approval by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate.
iv. To ensure impartiality, no member of the independent external body shall have held any elected federal office in the preceding ten years.
v. The independent external body shall serve a term of five years, with staggered appointments to ensure continuity and prevent abrupt transitions.

(c) Enforcement: Violations of this Act shall result in penalties, including but not limited to disqualification from holding any future federal office.

SEC. 9. AMENDMENT RESTRICTION.

(a) In General: This Act shall not be amended to bypass or weaken the term limits established. Any future amendments to this Act must be approved by a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate.

SEC. 10. TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.

(a) In General: Transitional provisions may be established to ensure stable governance and prevent sudden disruptions in the functioning of Congress.

(b) Mentorship Programs: Establish mentorship programs or advisory roles for former members to ensure smooth transitions and retain institutional knowledge.