Term-Limits-for-Congress-Restoring-the-Citizen-Legislature

Term Limits for Congress: Restoring the Citizen Legislature.

[Audio] • Primary stakeholders — This is broad: registered voters across the entire political spectrum and all demographics. Everyone has a stake in how Congress operates. • Secondary stakeholders — These are the organized groups pushing for change: advocacy organizations, state legislators, and civic groups. They amplify the message and drive action. • What unites them—This is the key insight. Despite their differences, there's a shared frustration. People across party lines feel Congress is broken and self-serving, not responsive to constituents. • Point to the data — Look at these numbers. Republicans at 85%, Independents at 85%, Democrats at 79%, overall at 83%. This isn't a partisan issue. This is a supermajority consensus. When you see numbers this consistent across party lines, you're looking at something real that transcends typical political divisions. • The takeaway — We're not talking about a fringe movement. We're talking about the vast majority of Americans, regardless of party, agreeing on one fundamental problem..

[Audio] • Three core problems driving stakeholder frustration with Congress Voters Feel Unheard Congress approval is stuck at 10%, yet 95% of incumbents get reelected anyway This isn't random—it's a structural problem built into the system People feel their votes don't matter when the same people keep winning Money Dominates Access Massive fundraising advantage: incumbents raise $10 for every $1 challengers raise This financial gap makes it nearly impossible for new candidates to compete Entrenches the same people in power, cycle after cycle Time Is Misspent Lawmakers spend 70% of their time on fundraising, not actual legislating The people's business gets pushed to the back burner Survival in office becomes the priority, not serving constituents These three issues feed into each other — they're interconnected parts of why people feel the system is broken..

[Audio] • H.J.Res. 12 proposes term limits for Congress—this is the actual policy we're discussing • Left side breaks down the basics: House members: maximum 3 terms = 6 years total Senate members: maximum 2 terms = 12 years total Introduced January 6, 2025, by Rep. Ralph Norman from South Carolina Companion bill in Senate by Ted Cruz Already has 151 congressional pledges of support — a record high • Right side shows the impact: House average tenure is currently 8.6 years, so this cuts about 30% off typical service Senate average is 11.2 years, so the 12-year limit basically aligns with where they already are This shows the House would see more turnover than the Senate • Key takeaway: This isn't theoretical — it's a real proposal with unprecedented support in Congress right now.

[Audio] • Restores Accountability — When legislators aren't constantly fundraising for reelection, they can focus on serving their constituents rather than their donors. Term limits break the cycle of incumbent advantage. • Increases Diversity—Open seats level the playing field. Women, veterans, and working-class candidates who can't match incumbent war chests finally have a real shot at running for office. • Reduces Polarization — Research backs this up. Olson and Rogowski's 2020 study shows term limits actually correlate with less partisan entrenchment in state legislatures. Less gridlock, more collaboration. • Proven at State Level — This isn't theoretical. 36 states already have term limits on their own legislatures, and they're working. We have real-world evidence this approach is viable..

[Audio] • Elections already limit terms — The 95% incumbent reelection rate tells the real story. Elections aren't working as a natural check because money and name recognition create an uneven playing field. This isn't a functioning market. • We'll lose expertise—This assumes current expertise serves the institution. The reality? It often serves lobbyists. Professional, nonpartisan staff can maintain institutional memory and continuity. Individual members don't need to be the repository of all knowledge. • It's unconstitutional — Critics often miss the point here. We're not trying to impose term limits through legislation. H.J.Res. 12 proposes a constitutional amendment — the proper legal mechanism. That's exactly how you change the rules constitutionally. • Cite the Congressional Research Service report for credibility on these points..

[Audio] • Our campaign action plan has three core components working together: Building the pressure: grassroots momentum and public support Building the platform: the messaging and policy framework Building the coalition: bringing together diverse stakeholders who support term limits • This is the roadmap for turning public sentiment into actual law • Everything we do from here flows from these three pillars.

[Audio] • We're targeting the 284 members who haven't pledged yet — this is where constituent pressure becomes our most powerful tool • Release accountability scorecards that clearly show each member's stance on term limits — transparency drives action • Host town halls at the district level where voters can ask their representatives directly on camera: "Will you co-sponsor H.J.Res. 12?" This creates real accountability and generates media attention • Emphasize the bipartisan nature of this — 85% of Republicans and 79% of Democrats support term limits. This isn't a partisan issue; it's what voters want • Remember the numbers: We need 290 House votes and 67 Senate votes. We've secured 151 pledges, so we're looking to move roughly 140 more members. That's achievable with the right pressure applied strategically..

Engaging the Media. Earned Media. Op-eds, local news segments, and press releases anchored to the 83% polling figure.

[Audio] • Voter Pledge Drives — We're collecting signatures in every congressional district. This creates visible, local pressure that politicians can't ignore. It shows them constituents care about this issue. • Article V Convention Push — We're already at 19+ states with passed applications. We need 34 total to trigger a constitutional convention. This is a real, achievable path forward. • Campus Chapters — Students are key. They'll be living under today's career politicians the longest, so they have the most at stake. Engaging them builds momentum and creates future advocates. • Coalition Partners — We're bringing together veterans' groups, civic leagues, and good-government nonprofits across the political spectrum. This isn't partisan — it's about reform that everyone can support. The image shows real grassroots action — volunteers on the ground doing the work. That's what builds power..

[Audio] • We're going to face real obstacles pushing term limits forward, so let's walk through them and our counter-strategies. • Incumbent Self-Interest — Career politicians have every reason to block this. They'll fight to protect their seats. Our response: primary challenges and grassroots voter mobilization. Show voters there are alternatives. • Lobbyist Opposition — Special interests have deep pockets and they fund the lawmakers who protect the status quo. Strategy: shine a light on these financial relationships. Make the money trail visible and uncomfortable. • High Amendment Threshold — Getting 2/3 of Congress plus 3/4 of states is a massive hurdle. That's why the Article V route matters — it lets us go around Congress entirely. The people can force this without waiting for permission from the very people we're trying to limit. • Voter Fatigue — People get tired of hearing about political reforms. Keep it concrete and local. Connect term limits to real problems voters experience — healthcare costs, infrastructure, jobs. Show them how entrenched politicians enable those problems. • These aren't insurmountable. They just require strategy and persistence..

[Audio] • USTL as our backbone — U.S. Term Limits has been our primary partner since the 1990s. They bring organizational infrastructure, credibility, and funding support we can build on. • The 83% advantage — Over 4 in 5 Americans support term limits. That's our goldmine for small-dollar online fundraising. Lots of donors giving modest amounts adds up and shows broad grassroots support. • Foundation strategy — Target civic reform foundations like Arnold Ventures and the Hewlett Foundation. They fund good-governance initiatives, which is exactly what we're doing. • State-level coordination — Work with existing state PACs focused on term limits. They can help fund Article V convention applications at the state level. • The real asset — Don't forget: public support is free and powerful. That 83% translates into actual donors, volunteers, and media coverage without us spending a dime. That's our competitive advantage..

[Audio] • Open with the quote about career politicians — it's punchy and sets up why we're here • Lead with unity: 83% support is our strongest asset. This crosses party lines, so emphasize it first in every conversation. It's the common ground that gets people listening. • Move to the personal impact — make it concrete. Show how a 30-year incumbent's net worth has grown while their constituent's wages stayed flat. Use specific names and numbers; arguments don't move people. • End with a crystal-clear ask: sign the pledge, call their representative, or vote out anyone who won't co-sponsor H.J.Res. 12. Give them something actionable to do right now. • The research backing this is solid — reference the Elhauge study if challenged on the democratic benefits of term limits..

[Audio] • We're 19 states away from triggering an Article V convention — that's our pressure point • We need 34 total applications to force Congress's hand • Track 1: Congressional Vote Build a 2/3 supermajority through direct pledges from representatives Use town halls to demonstrate constituent demand Hold members electorally accountable if they won't commit • Track 2: Article V Convention Push state legislatures to submit applications Historically, Congress moves preemptively to stop conventions — that's our leverage Getting close to 34 creates urgency in Washington • Ratification Once we have a proposal, we need 38 states to ratify With 83% public support nationally, this is within reach The public is already with us — now we convert that into legislative action The two-track approach isn't either/or — it's both simultaneously. The convention pressure makes Congress act, and Congress acting makes the convention unnecessary. Either way, we win..

Expected Results & Benefits. What America looks like when career politicians are replaced by citizen legislators..

[Audio] • Walk through the three phases of change after passage: Phase 1 — Immediately: Once enacted, every member's term clock starts ticking. This creates enforceable end dates—no more indefinite tenure. The rules are clear from day one. Phase 2 — 6 to 12 Years: As members hit their term limits and leave office, we'll see a wave of open seats. This transforms elections from incumbent-protection contests into genuinely competitive races. Fresh candidates can actually win. Phase 3 — Long-Term: Over time, Congress becomes more reflective of national diversity and public priorities rather than entrenched interests. New members bring new perspectives and aren't focused on re-election. • The big picture: Term limits shift Congress away from self-preservation mode toward genuine public service—which is what the Founders originally intended. • Reference the research on this if asked—Olson and Rogowski's work on term limits and polarization supports this trajectory..

[Audio] • Lead with the headline: term limits benefit voters by creating meaningful choices and competitive elections • Walk through each stat: 83% public support — This isn't partisan. Democrats, Republicans, Independents, young and old all agree on this. The American people are already on board. 36 states with term limits — This isn't theoretical. Over a third of state legislatures already operate under term limits. We have real-world proof this works. 95% incumbent win rate — This is the problem we're solving. When 95 out of 100 incumbents win, your vote doesn't really matter. They've already won. Term limits change that by forcing fresh candidates. $10 to $1 fundraising gap — Incumbents have a massive financial advantage that keeps challengers out of the race. When incumbents must step aside, that advantage disappears and real competition returns. • The bottom line: These four statistics show why voters need term limits — to restore competitive elections where their vote actually counts..

[Audio] • We're at a critical moment—H.J.Res. 12 is actively moving through the 119th Congress with 151 co-sponsors already committed. The momentum is real. • There are three concrete actions everyone in this room can take right now: Sign the pledge — Go to termlimits.com and add your name. We're representing 83% of Americans who support this. Make it visible. Call your representative — This is crucial. Don't email, don't post. Call and demand they co-sponsor H.J.Res. 12 by name. Get them on record. Share the message — Use this language: "83% of Americans agree. It's time Congress did too." One post, one share can reach dozens of people. It compounds. • This isn't theoretical anymore. The bill is live. The public support is documented. Now we need to convert that into congressional action, and that happens when representatives hear directly from their constituents..

[Audio] • Lead with the visual — citizens united on the Capitol steps sets the tone for collective action • The Public Will Is Clear — emphasize that 83% support is massive and crosses all divides. This isn't partisan; it's a genuine consensus. Pause here to let that sink in. • The Legislation Is Ready — H.J.Res. 12 exists. We're not starting from scratch. What's needed now is public pressure to move it forward. • The Path Is Proven — state convention pressure works. We've seen it before. Mention we're already halfway to the threshold needed to trigger a convention. • Close with the blockquote — "Democracy does not fix itself. Citizens do." This is the call to action. Make it personal: their involvement matters. • Reference the Pew data if challenged, but keep it conversational — this is about what Americans already believe, not convincing them..

APA References. Congressional Research Service. (2023, March 10). Term limits for members of Congress: Policy and legal overview (IF12343). Congress.gov. https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IF/PDF/IF12343/IF12343.1.pdf Eckman, S. J., & Wilhelm, A. H. (2025, January 22). Congressional careers: Service tenure and patterns of member service, 1789–2025 (R41545). Congressional Research Service. https://www.everycrsreport.com/files/2025-01-22_R41545 Elhauge, E., Lott, J. R., Jr., & Manning, R. L. (1997). How term limits enhance the expression of democratic preferences. Supreme Court Economic Review, 5, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1086/scer.5.1147095 McLaughlin & Associates. (2025, January 27). National congressional term limits poll: Executive summary. U.S. Term Limits. https://www.termlimits.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Mclaughlin_National_Poll_2025.pdf Norman, R. (2025, January 6). H.J.Res.12 — 119th Congress: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution to limit congressional terms. Congress.gov. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-joint-resolution/12 Olson, M. P., & Rogowski, J. C. (2020). Legislative term limits and polarization. The Journal of Politics, 82(2), 572–586. https://doi.org/10.1086/706764 Pew Research Center. (2023, September 19). Americans' dismal views of the nation's politics. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2023/09/19/how-americans-view-proposals-to-change-the-political-system/ U.S. Term Limits. (n.d.). Our plan to enact term limits. https://termlimits.com/plan/.

Sources. Our Plan to Enact Term Limits — U.S. Term Limits Term Limits Bill Introduced in Congress — U.S. Term Limits 83% of Americans Support Term Limits for Congress Legislative Term Limits and Polarization — The Journal of Politics Term Limits for Members of Congress: Policy and Legal Overview — CRS.