For immediate release
January 7, 2025
Contact: Scott Tillman, U.S. Term Limits
Phone: (321) 345-7455
stillman@termlimits.com
Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina Files Resolution to Term Limit Congress
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Term Limits (USTL) applauds Representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina for sponsoring House Joint Resolution 12 (HJR12). The proposal for a constitutional amendment, once approved by Congress and ratified by the states, would limit U.S. representatives to three terms, or 6 years, and U.S. senators to two terms, or 12 years.
There are 29 representatives listed on the resolution. The number of sponsors is expected to more than triple as U.S. Term Limits has secured pledges from more than 140 members of the 119th Congress.
HJR12 is being spearheaded by the nonpartisan, nonprofit U.S. Term Limits and is aimed at creating regular open seats thereby increasing the diversity of views and experiences represented in Congress.
“For too long, Congress has been dominated by career politicians who have lost touch with the needs and concerns of their constituents,” said Philip Blumel, President of U.S. Term limits. “Term limits will ensure that fresh ideas and new perspectives are brought to the table, and that elected officials remain accountable to the American people.”
Blumel praised the resolution, calling it “a vital step towards restoring citizen-government in our nation’s capital.”
The proposed amendment would not retroactively apply to current members of Congress. The clock would start ticking for the entire Congress after ratification by the states. HJR12 heads to the Judiciary Committee for consideration. The proposed amendment would require ratification by two-thirds of the Congress and three-fourths of the states in order to become part of the Constitution.
According to the latest nationwide poll on term limits conducted by Pew Research, term limits enjoys wide bipartisan support. The Pew Research report states, “Support for term limits is broad and strong across all political, geographic and demographic groups. An overwhelming 87% of voters approve of a constitutional amendment that will place term limits on members of Congress.”
HJR12 and its U.S. Senate companion resolution, sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, are part of a multi-pronged strategy to secure term limits on Congress. Since the Supreme Court decided that term limits may only be imposed through an amendment to the Constitution (U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton in 1995), USTL is also working with state legislatures to propose an amendment through a term limits amendment proposal convention, a power delegated to the states through Article V of the U.S. Constitution.
The complete text of the HJR-12 proposal may be viewed here.
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U.S. Term Limits is the largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization advocating solely on term limits. Our mission is to improve the quality of government with a citizen legislature that closely reflects its constituency and is responsive to the needs of the people it serves. USTL does not require a self-limit on individuals. Our aim is to limit the terms of all members of Congress as an institution. Find out more at termlimits.org.