About - U.S. Term Limits

About US Term Limits

VISION

Citizen legislatures arising from competitive elections, rotation in office and expanded citizen access to the electoral process.

MISSION

To enact & defend term limits on elected offices at all levels of government via the ballot box, legislatures and the courts with an ultimate aim of enacting a congressional term limits amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Term limits: Pass the torch. Build a Citizen Legislature

U.S. Term Limits, Inc. (USTL) is a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy group dedicated to enacting term limits for elected officials at all levels of government, with a primary focus on the U.S. Congress.

USTL was founded in the early 1990s with a mission to create a citizen legislature in Congress by implementing mandatory rotation in office. USTL quickly became the leader of a large grassroots movement, primarily using state ballot initiatives to enact term limits on members of Congress.

We successfully helped pass state-level laws imposing term limits on their respective delegations in 23 states. However, the U.S. Supreme Court nullified this effort and determined that term limits for Congress would require an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

How We Accomplish Our Mission

Our goal requires a constitutional amendment, which may be proposed in one of two ways: by a 2/3 vote in Congress, or by a convention called by 2/3 of state legislatures (34 states). Once proposed, the amendment must be ratified by 3/4 of the states (38 states). Historically, when the state-led movement nears its goal, Congress acts first to preempt the state proposal. We believe this amendment will put pressure on Congress to propose their own term limit amendment.

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Our team is powered by passion.
Most of the activists on this page are dedicated volunteers who donate their energy, skills, and even financial resources to champion for term limits on Congress. This isn’t just a job for us; it’s a mission we believe in wholeheartedly.

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Who Is U.S. Term Limits?

U.S. Term Limits (USTL), based out of Washington, D.C., advocates for term limits at all levels of government. Since it was established in the early 1990s, USTL has assisted in enacting and defending term limits on state legislatures in 15 states as well as congressional term limits in 23 states. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton that states may not individually enact term limits for their members of Congress and the popular and hard-won congressional term limits never went into effect.

In 2016, USTL launched the Term Limits Convention, a new project to enact a constitutional amendment for congressional term limits. Under this approach, state legislators can enact term limits for the Congress in Washington and no member of Congress can stop them.

USTL continues to be at the forefront of the term limits movement. Using the citizen initiative as its most potent tool, the term limits movement is considered to be the most successful grassroots movements in American history. To this day, voters in states and municipalities across the country are enacting and reaffirming term limit laws one election cycle after another.

How Can We Get the U.S. Term Limits Constitutional Amendment?

It can happen in one of two ways. First, Congress can propose the amendment with a two-thirds vote. Currently, Representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas are sponsoring the USTL amendment on Capitol Hill. It calls for a three-term (six year) limit on representatives and a two-term (12 year) limit on senators. USTL asks all candidates for congress to sign a pledge in support of this amendment.

If Congress refuses to pass term limits on itself, citizens and activists can use the Term Limits Convention. The Term Limits Convention allows 34 state legislatures to convene a meeting to write an amendment for congressional term limits. The process bypasses Washington and allows the people and the states to impose congressional term limits.

Why Should You Sign the U.S. Term Limits Constitutional Amendment Pledge?

Voters love term limits. Polling consistently shows support for term limits in the mid-80 percent range or higher. Major votes on state legislative term limits have been held in many states and cities over the last few years and each time citizens have overwhelmingly defended their term limits law.

Term limits provide fresh faces with fresh ideas to elected office. They reduce lobbyist and special interest influence and make room in Congress for the citizen legislator. Americans are sick of the political games and power politics; they are ready for a return to a citizen legislature which was the intent of our founding fathers. Those in Congress committed to bringing genuine change to Washington are invited to sign the U.S. Term Limits Constitutional Amendment Pledge calling for Congressional term limits of three terms in the House and two in the Senate.

Power to the People, Not the Politicians.