H.J.Res. 16House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of years an individual may serve as a Member of Congress.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 13, 2026 at 11:36 PM UTC

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would cap the total time a person can serve as a Senator, a Representative, or both at 12 years. The limit would apply only to service after the amendment is ratified, so any prior years in office would be ignored. The change would affect all current and future members of Congress.

Key Provisions

Sets a maximum of 12 years that any person may serve in Congress, counting time served in the Senate, the House, or a combination of both.
Any service that occurred before the amendment is ratified does not count toward the 12‑year limit.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee

January 3, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 3, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

January 3, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee

January 3, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 3, 2019

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. J. RES. 16

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 3, 2019

Mr. Marino 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 years an individual may serve as a Member of Congress.

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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An individual may not serve as a Senator or a Member of the House of Representatives if the period of the individual’s service as a Senator or Member of the House of Representatives (or, in the case of an individual who has served as both a Senator and as a Member of the House of Representatives, the combined period of the individual’s service as a Senator and Member of the House of Representatives) exceeds 12 years.

No period occurring before the date of the ratification of this article shall be taken into account in determining the period of an individual’s service under this article.