Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of terms a Member of Congress may serve, and to authorize a State to provide longer or shorter term limits for a Member of Congress from that State.

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 5, 1997

Constitutional Amendment - Limits a Representative to three terms and a Senator to two. Deems: (1) a Representative who has served more than one year or a Senator who has served more than three to have served a term; and (2) a Representative or a Senator who has served one or more terms as of the ratification of this Amendment to have served one term. Allows a State, by amendment of its constitution, to provide for term limits for a Representative or Senator that are longer or shorter than the limits provided in this Amendment.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Blunt, Roy [R-MO-7] · R–MO

Committees

Judiciary Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Rep. Talent, Jim [R-MO-2]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Mar 5, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Feb 5, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 5, 1997
Introduced in House
Feb 5, 1997
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Feb 5, 1997 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Nov 15, 2019. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.J.Res.42 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.J.Res.42, 105th Congress: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of terms a Member of Congress may serve, and to authorize a State to provide longer or shorter term limits for a Member of Congress from that State.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-joint-resolution/42

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-02-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hjres42/BILLS-105hjres42ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2019-11-15T21:34:05Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.J.Res.42 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.J.Res.42 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.J.Res.42, 105th Congress: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of terms a Member of Congress may serve, and to authorize a State to provide longer or shorter term limits for a Member of Congress from that State.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-joint-resolution/42

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-02-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hjres42/BILLS-105hjres42ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2019-11-15T21:34:05Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.J.Res.42 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.J.Res.42 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.J.Res.42, 105th Congress: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of terms a Member of Congress may serve, and to authorize a State to provide longer or shorter term limits for a Member of Congress from that State.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-joint-resolution/42

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-02-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hjres42/BILLS-105hjres42ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2019-11-15T21:34:05Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.J.Res.42 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.J.Res.42 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.J.Res.42, 105th Congress: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of terms a Member of Congress may serve, and to authorize a State to provide longer or shorter term limits for a Member of Congress from that State.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-joint-resolution/42

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-02-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hjres42/BILLS-105hjres42ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2019-11-15T21:34:05Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.J.Res.42 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.