[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 51 (Friday, April 19, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3715-S3717]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO LIMIT CONGRESSIONAL TERMS

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate will now 
proceed to the consideration of Senate Joint Resolution 21, which the 
clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A joint resolution (S.J. Res. 21) proposing a 
     constitutional amendment to limit congressional terms.

  The Senate proceeded to consider the joint resolution, with an 
amendment to strike all after the resolving clause and inserting the 
part printed in italic;

                              S.J. Res. 21

       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of 
     each House concurring therein), That the following article is 
     proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United 
     States:

                              ``Article --

       ``Section 1. After this article becomes operative, no 
     person shall be elected to a full term as a Senator more than 
     twice, or to a full term as a Representative more than six 
     times; no person who has been a Senator for more than three 
     years of a term to which some other persons was elected shall 
     subsequently be elected as a Senator more than once; and no 
     person who has been a Representative for more than a year of 
     a term to which some other person was elected shall 
     subsequently be elected as a Representative more than five 
     times.
       ``Section 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it 
     shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution 
     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. No election or service occurring before 
     ratification of this article shall be taken into account when 
     determining eligibility for election under section 1.''.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Tennessee.


                           Amendment No. 3692

(Purpose: To amend the joint resolution to change the length of limits 
 on Congressional terms to 6 years in the House of Representatives and 
                        12 years in the Senate)

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask 
for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Tennessee [Mr. Thompson], for Mr. 
     Ashcroft, proposes an amendment numbered 3692.

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:
       In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted, insert the 
     following:

     ``(two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the 
     following article is proposed as an amendment to the 
     Constitution of the United States:

                              ``Article --

       ``Section 1. After this article becomes operative, no 
     person shall be elected to a full term as a Senator more than 
     twice, or to a full term as a Representative more than 
     thrice; no person who has been a Senator for more than three 
     years of a term to which some other person was elected shall 
     subsequently be elected as a Senator more than once; and no 
     person who has been a Representative for more than a year of 
     a term to which some other person was elected shall 
     subsequently be elected as a Representative more than twice.
       ``Section 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it 
     shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution 
     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.''.

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There is a sufficient second.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.


                Amendment No. 3693 to Amendment No. 3692

(Purpose: To permit each State to prescribe the maximum number of terms 
 to which a person may be elected to the House of Representatives and 
                              the Senate)

  Mr. THOMPSON. I send a second-degree amendment to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Tennessee [Mr. Thompson], for Mr. Brown, 
     proposes an amendment numbered 3693 to amendment No. 3692.

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       In lieu of the matter proposal to be inserted, insert the 
     following: ``(two-thirds of each House concurring therein), 
     That the following article is hereby proposed as an amendment 
     to the Constitution of the United States:


                              ``Article--

       ``Section 1. Each State or the people thereof may prescribe 
     the maximum number of terms to which a person may be elected 
     or appointed to the Senate of the United States.
       ``Section 2. Each State or the people thereof may prescribe 
     the maximum number of terms to which a person may be elected 
     to the House of Representatives of the United States.
       ``Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it 
     shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution 
     by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several State 
     within seven years from the date of its submission to the 
     States by the Congress.''.


                           Amendment No. 3694

              (Purpose: To provide a perfecting amendment)

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask 
for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Tennessee [Mr. Thompson], for Mr. 
     Ashcroft, proposes an amendment numbered 3694.

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       In the language proposed to be inserted, strike all after 
     the first word and insert the following: of each House 
     concurring therein), That the following article is proposed 
     as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States:


                              ``ARTICLE--

       ``Section 1. After this article becomes operative, no 
     person shall be elected to a full term as a Senator more than 
     twice, or to a full term as a Representative more than 
     thrice; no person who has been a Senator for more than three 
     years of a term to which some other person was elected shall 
     subsequently be elected as a Senator more than once; and no 
     person who has been a Representative for more than a year of 
     a term to which some other person was elected shall 
     subsequently be elected as a Representative more than twice.
       ``Section 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it 
     shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution 
     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.''.

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There is a sufficient second.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.


                Amendment No. 3695 to Amendment No. 3694

(Purpose: To permit each State to prescribe the maximum number of terms 
 to which a person may be elected to the House of Representatives and 
                              the Senate)

  Mr. THOMPSON. I send a second-degree amendment to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Tennessee [Mr. Thompson], for Mr. Brown, 
     proposes an amendment numbered 3695 to amendment No. 3694.

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.

[[Page S3716]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted, insert the 
     following: ``of each House concurring therein), That the 
     following article is hereby proposed as an amendment to the 
     Constitution of the United States:


                              ``Article --

       ``Section 1. Each State or the people thereof may prescribe 
     the maximum number of terms to which a person may be elected 
     or appointed to the Senate of the United States.
       ``Section 2. Each State or the people thereof may prescribe 
     the maximum number of terms to which a person may be elected 
     to the House of Representatives of the United States.
       ``Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it 
     shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution 
     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.''.


                           Amendment No. 3696

(Purpose: To amend the joint resolution to change the length of limits 
on Congressional terms to 12 years in the House of Representatives and 
                        12 years in the Senate)

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Tennessee [Mr. Thompson] proposes an 
     amendment numbered 3696.

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       Strike all after the first word and insert the following: 
     ``of each House concurring therein), That the following 
     article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of 
     the United States:


                              ``Article--

       ``Section 1. After this article becomes operative, no 
     person shall be elected to a full term as a Senator more than 
     twice, or to a full term as a Representative more than six 
     times; no person who has been a Senator for more than three 
     years of a term to which some other person was elected shall 
     subsequently be elected as a Senator more than once; and no 
     person who has been a Representative for more than a year of 
     a term to which some other person was elected shall 
     subsequently be elected as a Representative more than five 
     times.
       ``Section 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it 
     shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution 
     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. No election or service occurring before 
     ratification of this article shall be taken into account when 
     determining eligibility for election under section 1.''.

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There is a sufficient second.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.


                Amendment No. 3697 To Amendment No. 3696

(Purpose: To permit each State to prescribe the maximum number of terms 
 to which a person may be elected to the House of Representatives and 
                              the Senate)

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask 
for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Tennessee [Mr. Thompson], for Mr. Brown, 
     proposes an amendment numbered 3697 to amendment No. 3696.

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted, insert the 
     following: ``of each House concurring therein). That the 
     following article is hereby proposed as an amendment to the 
     Constitution of the United States:


                              ``Article --

       ``Section 1. Each State or the people thereof may prescribe 
     the maximum number of terms to which a person may be elected 
     or appointed to the Senate of the United States.
       ``Section 2. Each State or the people thereof may prescribe 
     the maximum number of terms to which a person may be elected 
     to the House of Representatives of the United States.
       ``Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it 
     shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution 
     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.''.


                           Motion To Recommit

  Mr. THOMPSON. I now send a motion to recommit the joint resolution 
and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Tennessee [Mr. Thompson] moves to 
     recommit.

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading be 
dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The motion to recommit is as follows:

       Motion to recommit the resolution to Committee on the 
     Judiciary with instructions to report the resolution back to 
     the Senate without amendment forthwith.


                           Amendment No. 3698

  (Purpose: To amend the motion to recommit to change instructions to 
report back with limits on Congressional terms of 6 years on the House 
             of Representatives and 12 years in the Senate)

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I send a first-degree amendment to the 
desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Tennessee [Mr. Thompson], for Mr. 
     Ashcroft, proposes an amendment numbered 3698.

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:
       In lieu of the proposed instructions, insert the following: 
     with instructions to report the resolution back to the Senate 
     forthwith with an amendment as follows: ``(two-thirds of each 
     House concurring therein), That the following article is 
     proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United 
     States:


                              ``ARTICLE--

       ``Section 1. After this article becomes operative, no 
     person shall be elected to a full term as a Senator more than 
     twice, or to a full term, as a Representative more than 
     thrice; no person who has been a Senator for more than three 
     years of a term to which some other person was elected shall 
     subsequently be elected as a Senator more than once; and no 
     person who has been a Representative for more than a year of 
     a term to which some other person was elected shall 
     subsequently be elected as a Representative more than twice.
       ``Section 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it 
     shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution 
     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.''.

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There is a sufficient second.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.


                Amendment No. 3699 to Amendment No. 3698

  (Purpose: To amend the motion to recommit to change instructions to 
   report back with language allowing each State to set the terms of 
members of the House of Representatives and the Senate from that State)

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I send a second-degree amendment to the 
desk and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Tennessee [Mr. Thompson], for Mr. Brown, 
     proposes an amendment numbered 3699 to amendment No. 3698.

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading 
of the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       In lieu of the proposed instructions, insert the following: 
     with instructions to report the resolution back to the Senate 
     forthwith with an amendment as follows: ``(two-thirds of each 
     House concurring therein), That the following article is 
     hereby proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the 
     United States:


                              ``article --

       ``Section 1. Each State or the people thereof may prescribe 
     the maximum number of terms to which a person may be elected 
     or appointed to the Senate of the United States.
       ``Section 2. Each State or the people thereof may prescribe 
     the maximum number of terms to which a person may be elected 
     to the House of Representatives of the United States.
       ``Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it 
     shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution 
     by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States

[[Page S3717]]

     within seven years from the date of its submission to the 
     States by the Congress.''.

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, the 
Senate is now considering the constitutional amendment regarding 
congressional term limits. I have just sent to the desk a series of 
amendments to the joint resolution, the effect of which is to ensure 
that the debate remains on the issue of congressional term limits. If 
the amendment process had not been completed, it was the fear of this 
Senator and many others on this side of the aisle that other Members 
were intending to offer an amendment which would not be relevant to the 
pending term limits legislation. With the so-called amendment tree now 
filled, it is the hope of this Senator that the debate will now stay 
focused on this very important legislation.
  It is also the understanding of this Senator that later today, the 
majority leader will file a cloture motion on the joint resolution 
which will allow for a cloture vote on Tuesday, April 23, 1996.
  I appreciate the cooperation and support of the majority leader for 
bringing this issue before the Senate in such a timely manner, and I 
look forward to a vigorous debate today, Monday and Tuesday.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from Tennessee yield the 
floor?
  Mr. THOMPSON. I will yield the floor. I note my colleague from 
Montana seeking recognition, and I yield the floor.
  Mr. BURNS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Montana.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, in 1994, in my campaign for reelection to 
the U.S. Senate, term limits was part of that campaign, and the Senator 
from Tennessee has picked up the yoke, so to speak, and is trying to do 
something about that. I was not convinced, when I first came to the 
U.S. Senate, that term limits was needed, but I am even more convinced 
now.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I may proceed as in 
morning business for just the next 4 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is 
so ordered.

                          ____________________