H.J.Res. 20House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of consecutive terms that a Member of Congress may serve.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 11:16 AM UTC

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would set term limits for members of Congress. It would cap Senators at two consecutive terms and Representatives at six consecutive terms, with a one‑year cooling‑off period before they could run again. The amendment would only count terms that begin after it is ratified, so prior service would not affect the new limits.

Key Provisions

Limits a Senator to two full consecutive terms; after serving two terms, the person must wait one year before they can serve again as a Senator.
Limits a Representative to six full consecutive terms; after serving six terms, the person must wait one year before they can serve again as a Representative.
Any term that started before the amendment is ratified does not count toward the term limits.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee

January 12, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 5, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

January 5, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee

January 12, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 5, 2017

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. J. RES. 20

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 5, 2017

Mr. Duffy submitted the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of consecutive terms that a Member of Congress may serve.

That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification:

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No person who has been a Senator for two full consecutive terms shall again be a Senator until the date that is one year after the end of such second full consecutive term.

No person who has been a Representative for six full consecutive terms shall again be a Representative until the date that is one year after the end of the sixth full consecutive term.

For the purposes of this article, any term that began before the date of the ratification of this article shall not be included in determining the number of full consecutive terms that a person has been a Senator or Representative.