[House Report 105-4]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
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
R E P O R T
[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.
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.
(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 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.
``(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, 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 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.
``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:
``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 Designee, 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 McCollum of Florida
or a Designee, 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 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.''.