Contact Congress about H.J.Res. 12: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of terms that a Member of Congress may serve.

If this passes, no one could serve more than three terms in the House or two terms in the Senate. That means more turnover in Congress and more open-seat elections over time. It would only apply to terms that start after ratification, so current members would not be forced out right away.

Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of terms that a Member of Congress may serve. is a House bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Latest action on H.J.Res. 12: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Who this affects: This would directly affect every current and future member of Congress, as well as anyone thinking about running for federal office. Voters would also feel the impact because their choices on the ballot would change over time as incumbents hit their term limits.

Why this matters: Congress currently has no term limits, which means some members serve for decades. This amendment would force regular turnover, which could reshape how Congress works — from who runs committees to how policy gets made. Whether that leads to better or worse governance is the core debate.

Key provisions in H.J.Res. 12

• House members would be capped at three elected terms, and filling a vacancy counts as a term if you serve more than one year.
• Senators would be capped at two terms, and filling a vacancy counts as a term if you serve more than three years.
• Once you hit the limit, you cannot run for that chamber again — and for the Senate, you cannot be appointed either.
• Short stints filling a vacant seat might not count toward the limit, depending on how long you actually serve.
• Any terms that started before the amendment is ratified get a free pass — they do not count toward the new limits.

How Modern Action helps you take action on H.J.Res. 12

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about H.J.Res. 12

What is H.J.Res. 12?

If this passes, no one could serve more than three terms in the House or two terms in the Senate. That means more turnover in Congress and more open-seat elections over time. It would only apply to terms that start after ratification, so current members would not be forced out right away.

How do I support or oppose H.J.Res. 12?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about H.J.Res. 12?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

Can Modern Action explain H.J.Res. 12 before I act?

Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.