Limiting how long someone can serve in Congress

How much do people want it

What got approved

Nothing. The last time the House voted on this was 1995.

Thirty-one years ago the House voted on several versions and none reached the two thirds an amendment needs. The strongest got 227 votes to 204 — a majority, but not enough. The Senate failed the same year to pass even a statement of support.

What could have been

Bills keep being introduced. None has been brought up for a vote in three decades.

Three separate versions sit in this Congress. One would limit House members to six two-year terms and senators to two six-year terms.

That same version would not apply to anyone who was already serving before this Congress began. The people voting on it would mostly be exempt from it.

Twenty states have passed language asking for a constitutional convention on the subject, one of the two routes an amendment can take.

Additional notes

Nothing to report. Where a government department changes a rule affecting this topic, it appears here — never counted as the government getting something done. Why.

Where these came from

Every line above is checkable.

• Congress.gov — search the bill number given on this page
• Congress.gov — House Report 105-2, the 1995 votes and their counts
• Program for Public Consultation — the February 2026 national survey, question 110 on page 29. The exact question wording, the national figure, and the Republican, Democratic and independent numbers.

Found a mistake?

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