Austin News

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, representing Texas and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has introduced a constitutional amendment aimed at imposing term limits on Congress members. The proposed amendment seeks to restrict U.S. Senators to two six-year terms and House Representatives to three two-year terms.

Senator Cruz emphasized the importance of term limits in addressing issues within Washington, D.C., stating, "Term limits are critical to fixing what’s wrong with Washington, D.C. The Founding Fathers envisioned a government of citizen legislators who would serve for a few years and return home." He urged his colleagues to advance the amendment for state ratification.

Representative Ralph Norman expressed similar sentiments about the role of elected office, saying, “Elected office should represent a short-term privilege of public service, not a career choice.” He acknowledged Senator Cruz's efforts in introducing a companion bill in the Senate.

The introduction of this amendment was supported by several other senators including Mike Lee from Utah, Rick Scott from Florida, Rand Paul from Kentucky, Todd Young from Indiana, Steve Daines from Montana, Cynthia Lummis from Wyoming, Bill Hagerty from Tennessee, Eric Schmitt from Missouri, Roger Marshall from Kansas, Katie Britt from Alabama, and Jim Banks also from Indiana.

Representative Ralph Norman introduced the corresponding amendment in the House of Representatives.

Senator Cruz has previously introduced similar amendments in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023.