34 States Can Bypass Congress & Call the Term Limits Convention!
The U.S. Constitution gives states the power to bypass Congress, come together in a convention and propose a congressional term limits amendment. To make it happen, 34 state legislatures must pass applications for a congressional term limits convention OR for a convention that doesn’t rule out term limits.
Now, here is where it gets a bit complicated. The states don’t always pass the exact same legislation. So, today there are states that have passed USTL’s “term limits only” legislation, states that have passed convention calls that include term limits as well as other issues, and states that that have passed legislation that doesn’t exclude considering term limits.
Robert Natelson, law professor, author and renowned authority on the U.S. Constitution, has penned many groundbreaking studies on the original intent of the Constitution and its amendment process. His works have been referenced in several U.S. Supreme Court decisions. In his most recent white paper, Natelson concludes that single and multi-subject convention applications (which include the single subject) can be combined with inclusive (non-specific) applications. The result of combining all these applications would be a convention that may discuss only the single subject, which in our case is congressional term limits.
Natelson cites historic precedence for several conventions of states that have assembled where this process was followed. The above progress tally is based on Natelson’s latest research, “Federalism & Separation of Powers.”
So Where do We Stand Now?
Three states, Florida, Alabama, and Missouri have passed USTL’s applications specific to the single topic of term limits. Eleven more states (indicated as medium blue) have passed term limits specific language as part of a multi-subject initiative. And, thirteen have passed inclusive Article V applications, meaning they approved convention resolutions that could include term limits. Based on one legal interpretation that brings the Term Limits Convention Application up to twenty-seven. However, to eliminate all legal uncertainly and positively impose term limits on the House and Senate, USTL is fighting to pass our Term Limits Convention-only legislation in thirty-four states.
One thing is clear, however. The individual states are taking action to impose term limits on Congress, and every day we are one step closer to our goal!
To help us call the Term Limits Convention and eliminate careerism on Capitol Hill, please donate just $5 or more here.