[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.''.

                                
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