39–008

105TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 105–4

PROVIDING FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF HOUSE JOINT

RESOLUTION 2, CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS AMENDMENT

FEBRUARY 11, 1997.—Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed

Mr. SOLOMON, from the Committee on Rules,

submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. Res. 47]

The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration House

Resolution 47, by a nonrecord vote, report the same to the House

with the recommendation that the resolution be adopted.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS OF RESOLUTION

The resolution provides for the consideration of House Joint Resolution 2, the ‘‘Congressional Term Limits Amendment’’ under a

modified closed rule. The rule provides two hours of general debate

divided equally between the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary.

The rule makes in order only those amendments in the nature

of a substitute printed in the report accompanying this resolution.

It provides that each amendment may be offered only in the

order specified in the report, may be offered only by the member

specified, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the

time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the

proponent and an opponent, and shall not be subject to amendment.

The rule provides that if more than one amendment is adopted,

then only the one receiving the most affirmative votes is considered

as adopted; in the case of a tie, the last such amendment is adopted.

The rule provides that the chairman of the Committee of the

Whole may postpone a request for a recorded vote on any amendment, and reduce to five minutes the voting time on the second and

subsequent votes in a series. Finally, the rule provides for one motion to recommit, with or without instructions.
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COMMITTEE VOTES

Pursuant to clause 2(l)(2)(B) of House rule XI the results of each

rollcall vote on an amendment or motion to report, together with

the names of those voting for and against, are printed below:

Rules Committee Rollcall No. 1

Date: February 11, 1997.

Measure: House Joint Resolution 2, the Term Limits Constitutional Amendment.

Motion by: Mr. Moakley.

Summary of motion: Make in order Inglis amendment to limit

lifetime service of House Members to 3 full terms and Senators to

2 full terms and specifically states that the limit is not retroactive.

Results: Defeated 3–9.

Vote by Members: Dreier—Nay; Goss—Nay; Linder—Nay;

Pryce—Nay; Diaz-Balart—Nay; McInnis—Nay; Hastings—Nay;

Myrick—Nay; Moakley—Yea; Hall—Yea; Slaughter—Yea; Solomon—Nay.

SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER FOR HOUSE JOINT

RESOLUTION 2, THE TERM LIMITS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

(1) Hutchinson—10 min.: Limits lifetime service of House Members to 3 two-year terms and Senators to 2 six-year terms; provides

that upon ratification incumbents are considered to have served

one term; and there shall be no time limit for ratification. This is

the Arkansas version.

(2) McInnis/Schaefer/Schaffer—10 min.: Limits House Members

to 3 terms and Senators to 2 terms and provides that upon ratification incumbents are considered to have served one term. This is

the Colorado version.

(3) Crapo—10 min.: Limits Representatives to 3 terms and Senators to 2 terms. This is the Idaho version.

(4) Blunt—10 min.: Limits Representatives to 3 terms, Senators

to 2 terms; provides that upon ratification incumbents are considered to have served one term; provides no time limit for ratification; allows states to set longer or shorter limits than those set out

in the initiative. This is the Missouri version.

(5) Christensen—10 min.: Limits Representatives to 3 terms,

Senators to 2 terms; provides that upon ratification incumbents are

considered to have served one term; and provides no time limit for

ratification. This is the Nebraska version.

(6) Ensign/Gibbons—10 min.: Limits Representatives to 3 terms,

Senators to 2 terms; provides that upon ratification incumbents are

considered to have served one term; and provides no time limit for

ratification. This is the Nevada version.

(7) Thune—10 min.: Limits Representatives to 3 terms, Senators

to 2 terms; provides that upon ratification incumbents are considered to have served one term; and provides no time limit for ratification. This is the South Dakota version.

(8) Fowler—10 min.: Limits House Members to 4 consecutive

terms and 2 consecutive terms for Senators.

(9) Scott—10 min.: Allows States to enact shorter term limits

than those in H.J. Res. 2, if they so choose.
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(10) Dingell/Barton—30 min.: Limits lifetime service of House

Members to 6 elections (partial term counts) and of Senators to 2

elections. The amendment takes into account prior service for purposes of determining limit.

(11) McCollum—30 min.: Limits House Members to 6 terms and

Senators to 2 terms; a term is counted for the term limit if more

than 50% of the term is served.

1. THE AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE HUTCHINSON OF ARKANSAS OR A DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR NOT TO EXCEED 10 MINUTES

Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the following:

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.

‘‘CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS AMENDMENT

‘‘SECTION A. No person shall serve in the office of United States

Representative for more than three terms, but upon ratification of

the Congressional Term Limits Amendment no person who has

held the office of United States Representative or who then holds

the office shall serve for more than two additional terms.

‘‘SECTION B. No person shall serve in the office of United States

Senator for more than two terms, but upon ratification of the Congressional Term Limits Amendment no person who has held the office of United States Senator or who then holds the office shall

serve for more than one additional term.

‘‘SECTION C. This article shall have no time limit within which

it must be ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several

states.’’.

2. THE AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE MCINNIS

OR REPRESENTATIVE SCHAEFER OR REPRESENTATIVE SCHAFFER OF

COLORADO OR A DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR NOT TO EXCEED 10

MINUTES

Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the following:

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:

‘‘ARTICLE —

‘‘SECTION 1: No person shall serve in the office of United States

Representative for more than three terms, but upon ratification of

this amendment no person who has held the office of United States

Representative or who then holds the office shall serve for more

than two additional terms.

‘‘SECTION 2: No person shall serve in the office of United States

Senator for more than two terms, but upon ratification of this

amendment no person who has held the office of United States
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Senator or who then holds the office shall serve for more than one

additional term.

‘‘SECTION 3: This amendment shall have no time limit within

which it must be ratified to become operative upon the ratification

of the legislatures three-fourths of the several states.’’.

3. THE AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE CRAPO OF

IDAHO OR A DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR NOT TO EXCEED 10 MINUTES

Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the following:

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:

‘‘ARTICLE—

‘‘SECTION A. No person shall serve in the office of the United

States Representative for more than three (3) terms, but upon ratification no person who has held the office of United States Representative or who then holds the office shall serve for more than

two additional terms.

‘‘SECTION B. No person shall serve in the office of the United

States Senator for more than two (2) terms, but upon ratification,

no person who has held the office of the United States Senator or

who then holds the office shall serve for more than one additional

term.

‘‘SECTION C. This article shall have no time limit within which

it must be ratified to become operative upon the ratification of the

legislatures of three-fourths of the several States.’’.

4. THE AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE BLUNT OF

MISSOURI OR A DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR NOT TO EXCEED 10

MINUTES

Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the following:

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:

‘‘ARTICLE—

‘‘(a) No person shall serve in the office of United States Representative for more than three terms, but upon ratification of this

amendment no person who has held the office of United States

Representative or who then holds the office shall serve for more

than two additional terms.

‘‘(b) No person shall serve in the office of United States Senator

for more than two terms, but upon ratification of this amendment

no person who has held the office of United States Senator or who

then holds the office shall serve in the office for more than one additional term.
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‘‘(c) Any state may enact by state constitutional amendment

longer or shorter limits than those specified in section ‘a’ or ‘b’

herein.

‘‘(d) This article shall have no time limit within which it must

be ratified to become operative upon the ratification of the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States.’’.

5. THE AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE

CHRISTENSEN OF NEBRASKA OR A DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR NOT

TO EXCEED 10 MINUTES

Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the following:

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:

‘‘ARTICLE—

‘‘SECTION 1. No person shall serve in the office of United States

Representative for more than three terms, but upon ratification of

this amendment no person who has held the office of United States

Representative or who then holds the office shall serve for more

than two additional terms.

‘‘SECTION 2. No person shall serve in the office of United States

Senator for more than two terms, but upon ratification of this

amendment no person who has held the office of United States

Senator or who holds the office shall serve more than one additional term.

‘‘SECTION 3. This article shall have no time limit within which it

must be ratified to become operative upon the ratification of the

legislatures of three-fourths of the several states.’’.

6. THE AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE ENSIGN

OR REPRESENTATIVE GIBBONS OF NEVADA OR A DESIGNEE, DEBAT- ABLE FOR NOT TO EXCEED 10 MINUTES

Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the following:

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:

‘‘CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS AMENDMENT

‘‘SECTION 1. No person shall serve in the office of the United

States Representative for more than three terms, but upon ratification of this amendment no person who has held the office of United

States Representative or who then hold the office shall serve for

more than two additional terms.

‘‘SECTION 2. No person shall serve in the office of United States

Senator for more than two terms, but upon ratification of this

amendment no person who has held the office of United States

Senator or who then holds the office shall serve for more than one

additional term.
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‘‘SECTION 3. This article shall have no time limit within which it

must be ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several

States.’’.

7. THE AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE THUNE OF

SOUTH DAKOTA OR A DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR NOT TO EXCEED

10 MINUTES

Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the following:

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:

‘‘ARTICLE —

‘‘(a) No person shall serve in the office of the United States Representative for more than three terms, but upon ratification of this

amendment no person who has held the office of United States

Representative or who then holds the office shall serve for more

than two additional terms.

‘‘(b) No person shall serve in the office of United States Senator

for more than two terms, but upon ratification of this amendment

no person who has held the office of United States Senator or who

then holds the office shall serve more than one additional term.

‘‘(c) This article shall have no time limit within which it must be

ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states.’’.

8. THE AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE FOWLER

OF FLORIDA OR A DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR NOT TO EXCEED 10

MINUTES

Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the following:

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 —

‘‘No person may serve more than four consecutive terms as Representative or two consecutive terms as Senator, not counting any

term that began before the adoption of this article of amendment.’’.

9. THE AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT OF

VIRGINIA OR A DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR NOT TO EXCEED 10

MINUTES

Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the following:

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:
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‘‘ARTICLE —

‘‘SECTION 1. No person who has been elected for a full term to

the Senate two times shall be eligible for election or appointment

to the Senate. No person who has been elected for a full term to

the House of Representatives six times shall be eligible for election

to the House of Representatives.

‘‘SECTION 2. No person who has served as a Senator for more

than three years of a term to which some other person was elected

shall subsequently be eligible for election to the Senate more than

once. No person who has served as a Representative for more than

one year shall subsequently be eligible for election to the House of

Representatives more than five times.

‘‘SECTION 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have

been ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several

States within seven years from the date of its submission to the

States by the Congress.

‘‘SECTION 4. No election or service occurring before this article

becomes operative shall be taken into account when determining

eligibility for election under this article.

‘‘SECTION 5. A State may enact a term limit less than that provided in this article.’’.

10. THE AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE DINGELL

OF MICHIGAN OR REPRESENTATIVE BARTON OF TEXAS OR A DES- IGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR NOT TO EXCEED 30 MINUTES

Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the following:

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 who has been elected to the Senate two

times shall be eligible for election or appointment to the Senate. No

person who has been elected to the House of Representatives six

times shall be eligible for election to the House of Representatives.

‘‘SECTION 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have

been ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several

States within seven years from the date of its submission to the

States by the Congress.

‘‘SECTION 3. Election as a Senator or Representative before this

Article is ratified shall be taken into account for purposes of section

1.’’.

11. THE AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE MCCOL- LUM OF FLORIDA OR A DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR NOT TO EX- CEED 30 MINUTES

Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the following:

That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the

Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all in-
8

tents 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 who has been elected for a full term to

the Senate two times shall be eligible for election or appointment

to the Senate. No person who has been elected for a full term to

the House of Representatives six times shall be eligible for election

to the House of Representatives.

‘‘SECTION 2. No person who has served as a Senator for more

than three years of a term to which some other person was elected

shall subsequently be eligible for election to the Senate more than

once. No person who has served as a Representative for more than

one year shall subsequently be eligible for election to the House of

Representatives more than five times.

‘‘SECTION 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have

been ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several

States within seven years from the date of its submission to the

States by the Congress.

‘‘SECTION 4. No election or service occurring before this article

becomes operative shall be taken into account when determining

eligibility for election under this article.’’.

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