EXPLANATION: The Term Limits Amendment is a Constitutional Amendment to limit the number of terms elected representatives can serve in Congress. A Constitutional Amendment on term limits would provide uniformity to the term limits laws of the many state that have these laws already. If approved by 2/3 of both the House and Senate, the amendment would have to be ratified by 3/4 , or 38, of the states.

RELEVANT COMMITTEES: This resolution, proposing a term limits amendment to the Constitution, was submitted to the House Committee on the Judiciary and a public hearing was held on the measure by the House Committee on Rules.

STATUS: The Term Limits Amendment failed to get the necessary 2/3 majority (227- 204) in the House by 61 votes on March 29, 1995. Note: Additionally, the Supreme Court has ruled that the term limit laws of the states are unconstitutional.

SPONSORS: Rep. Bill McCollum (R-FL), Rep. Larry Combest (R-TX)

PRO: Polls show that 80% of Americans support term limits as a way to reform Congress and eliminate career politicians. The Term Limits Amendment would eliminate the legal controversy over term limits and would provide a uniform rule of term limits for the states.

"The people of America told us the institution of Congress itself needs to be reformed before we can deal with the tough problems and challenges facing our country. There is no more important an indicator of our commitment to impose discipline on ourselves than our support for term limits."--Rep. Bob Franks (R-NJ).

CON: Opponents argue that the country needs experienced leaders in Congress. For smaller states, strong and experienced representatives are a means to increasing their influence in Congress.

"Term limits are a bad idea whose time has not come. We already have term limits. They are called elections every 2 years. We do not need another constitutional amendment to change what the voters already have done, and that is change the Congress and the political system.

Since I came to Congress 12 years ago, 75 percent of the House has changed. If you want entrenched bureaucrats, if you want lobbyists and if you want staff to run the Congress, then vote for term limits."--Rep. William Richardson (D-NM).

WHAT'S NEXT: At the moment, there is no committee action on term limits legislation.