Term Limits: 12 years max in Congress; an Amendment
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the total period of service
Summary:
In the 119th Congress, term limits legislation is currently being developed. If a term limits bill does not
pass by the end of this Congress, upon being sworn in as Oregon’s next U.S. Senator, I will immediately
introduce this joint resolution to amend the U.S. Constitution and limit total congressional service to 12
years combined between the House and Senate.
120TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S.J. Res. ____
Congressional Term Limits Amendment
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the total period of service of
Members of Congress to twelve years combined in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
Ms. Perkins of Oregon introduced the following joint resolution, which was read twice and referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary.
JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the total period of service of
Members of Congress to twelve years combined in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress
assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an
amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as
part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within
seven years after the date of its submission for ratification:
ARTICLE
SECTION 1.
No person shall be elected or appointed to the office of Senator or Representative in
Congress if such election or appointment would cause the total period of service of such person as a
Senator and as a Representative to exceed twelve years.
SECTION 2. For purposes of this article:
(a) Service in filling a vacancy in the House of Representatives for more than one year shall count as a
full two-year term toward the twelve-year limit. Service for one year or less shall not be counted.
(b) Service in filling a vacancy in the Senate for more than three years shall count as a full six-year term
toward the twelve-year limit. Service for three years or less shall not be counted.
SECTION 3.
No period of service beginning before the date of the ratification of this article shall be taken
into account in determining the total period of service under this article.
Term Limits for Congress – Bringing Back Citizen Legislators
"18 years in Congress is a career, not public service."
The founders envisioned citizen-legislators who served briefly and returned home to private life, not professional politicians building empires in Washington.
George Mason argued in 1787 that long congressional terms would lead to “corruption and aristocracy.” He favored short terms and rotation so members would “return to the mass of the people” and feel the effects of their own laws.
Thomas Jefferson emphasized rotation: “The spirit of the times may alter, will alter. Our rulers will become corrupt, our people careless... From the conclusion of this war we shall be going downhill. It will not then be necessary to resort every moment to the people for support. They will be forgotten, therefore, and their rights disregarded.
Benjamin Franklin spoke against long service, suggesting members should serve “a season” and then return to private life, lest power corrupt.
John Adams warned that “where annual elections end, there slavery begins,” implying longer terms erode accountability.
Jeff Merkley has already had his season. 2026 is his 18th year in DC!
He is running again, going after his fourth term as a U.S. Senator... 24 years! While he pushes term limits for Supreme Court justices, he refuses to limit his own time in Washington. That is not service - it’s a career. Oregon deserves fresh voices, not career politicians.
The Framers’ goal was to ensure natural turnover through the ballot box.
My 12-year combined limit builds on that design.
The limit applies only to future service (prior time does not count).
The Framers' Vision: Natural Turnover, Not Permanent Power
James Madison (Federalist No. 62) explained the 6-year Senate term with staggered election is a way to provide "due stability" while preventing the Senate from becoming too detached.
The 2-year House cycle and staggered Senate elections together create natural regular turnovers without wiping out the entire Congress at once. That is exactly the "natural turnover through the ballot box" the Framers intended.
They wanted Congress to be responsive via the House of Representatives; yet deliberative via the Senate. They did not support a permanent class of politicians.