Summary of SJRES 1: Proposed Constitutional Amendment on Congressional Term Limits

Bill Overview

Bill Number: SJRES 1

Title: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to limiting the number of terms that a Member of Congress may serve.

Status: Introduced in Senate

Introduced Date: January 07, 2025

Classification: Resolution

Purpose and Intent

SJRES 1 aims to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would impose term limits on members of the House of Representatives. The primary intent of this resolution is to promote political accountability and reduce the potential for career politicians by limiting the number of terms an individual can serve in the House.

Key Provisions

The proposed amendment includes the following key provisions:

• Term Limit: No individual who has served three terms (six years) as a Representative shall be eligible for election to the House of Representatives.
• Vacancy Consideration: If a person is elected to fill a vacancy in the House and serves more than one year, that service will count as one full term towards the three-term limit.

Affected Parties

This amendment would directly affect:
- Members of the House of Representatives: Current and future members would be subject to the new term limits.
- Voters: Constituents would have the opportunity to elect new representatives more frequently, potentially increasing political diversity and responsiveness.

Procedural Aspects

• Ratification Requirement: For the amendment to become part of the Constitution, it must be ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths (38 out of 50) of the states within seven years of its submission by Congress.
• Legislative Actions:
  • On January 7, 2025, SJRES 1 was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary for further consideration.

Sponsorship

The resolution is sponsored by Senator Ted Cruz and has multiple cosponsors, including:
- Roger Marshall
- Josh Hawley
- Rick Scott
- Tim Scott
- Mike Lee
- Ted Budd
- Steve Daines
- Rand Paul
- Katie Britt
- Todd Young
- Bill Cassidy
- Eric S. Schmitt
- Bernie Moreno
- Cynthia M. Lummis
- Jim Banks
- Tim Sheehy
- Pete Ricketts
- Bill Hagerty

Related Legislation

SJRES 1 has companion bills, including:
- SJRES 2
- HJRES 12

These related bills may address similar issues regarding term limits or congressional reform.

Conclusion

SJRES 1 represents a significant proposal aimed at reforming the structure of congressional representation in the United States. By instituting term limits for House members, the resolution seeks to enhance democratic engagement and reduce the entrenchment of long-serving politicians in the legislative process.