# Plain Language Summary: Congressional Term Limits Amendment

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment that would limit how long members of Congress can serve. If passed and ratified, it would cap House members at twelve years of service (six two-year terms) and Senators at twelve years of service (two six-year terms). Right now, there are no term limits for Congress—members can theoretically serve for life if they keep getting reelected. This proposal would change that fundamental rule.

The amendment includes an important detail about partial terms: if someone serves more than one year of a House term or more than three years of a Senate term, that counts as a full term toward their limit. This prevents people from gaming the system by serving most of a term and then claiming it doesn't count. The proposal also includes a grandfather clause, meaning anyone currently serving in Congress when this amendment takes effect wouldn't be subject to these limits—only future members would be restricted.

To become law, this amendment would need to clear a very high bar. First, it needs approval from two-thirds of both the House and Senate. Then it must be ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures within seven years. This is intentionally difficult because constitutional amendments are meant to be rare and represent broad consensus. The practical effect, if it ever passed all these hurdles, would be that experienced lawmakers would eventually be forced to leave office, potentially bringing in more new members but also removing people with deep knowledge of how Congress works.

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

Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

 <p>This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment limiting Representatives to six terms and Senators to two terms. The amendment shall not apply to any person who served as a Representative or a Senator before the 118th Congress.</p>