Proposed amendment would cap consecutive congressional terms at 10–12 years
In committeeH.J.Res. 120Latest action
Sponsor: Seth Magaziner · Representative · RI
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of consecutive terms that a Member of Congress may serve.
119th Congress
Topics: Government & democracy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
The plain-language version comes first. The official text is always the reference.
HJRES 120 would limit senators to 2 consecutive terms and House members to 5, with a required 1-year break before returning.
40-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
HJRES 120 proposes a constitutional amendment limiting senators to two consecutive terms (12 years) and House members to five consecutive terms (10 years). After reaching the limit, a member must wait at least one year before running again. Terms served before ratification would not count toward the new limits.
Who does it affect?
The limits would apply to all current and future members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The bill does not affect the president or any other federal officeholder.
Why does it matter?
Long-serving incumbents who reach the consecutive-term limit would be required to temporarily vacate their seats, which could affect constituents who support them. The mandatory break could also create openings for new candidates who might otherwise struggle to defeat an incumbent.
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Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Where does it stand?
- IntroducedSep 11, 2025
- House committeeYou are here · Sep 11, 2025
- House vote
- Senate
- Sent to the states
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House. Both chambers have to pass the same text, each by two thirds. A proposed constitutional amendment never goes to the president: it goes to the states, and three quarters of them have to ratify it before it takes effect.
Latest action: — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.