Citizen Legislature Act 
 
 
Summary: 
 
This resolution provides for consideration of two joint 
resolutions which propose amendments to the constitution limiting 
the number of terms members of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives can serve.  The first  joint resolution 
(identical to H.J.Res. 38 as introduced in the 103rd Congress) 
limits the number of Senate terms to two and the number of House 
terms to six.  The second joint resolution (identical to H.J.Res. 
160 as introduced in the 103rd Congress) also limits Senators to 
two terms, but it limits members of the House to three terms.  
Under the terms of this resolution, the joint resolution with the 
text of H.J.Res. 38 will be debated first and the first amendment 
in order will be a substitute consisting of H.J.Res. 160.   
 
 
Background: 
 
The idea of limiting the tenure of elected officials has recurred 
through our history, but it has become more popular in the last 
few years.  In 1992, 14 states passed initiatives limiting the 
tenure of federal legislators. Two of these laws, however, have 
been challenged and found unconstitutional in court.  The U.S. 
Supreme Court will review the ruling by the  Arkansas Supreme 
Court.  Since there is a chance the high court will uphold the 
state court's ruling, a constitutional amendment may be necessary 
to limit congressional tenure.