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The Push and Promise of Term Limits

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Navigating Term Limits

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Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the 17 states that are examined in this book. This chapter includes specific information about each of the states and how they got term limits. While this chapter outlines many of the unique differences among the states, it also notes some key similarities. This chapter is meant to serve as a reference point for the reader throughout the remainder of the text.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    See https://www.termlimits.com/contact-state-legislator/ for more examples of what the organization does to push term limits. (last accessed October 6, 2023).

  2. 2.

    Last accessed 2020. https://www.ncsl.org/blog/2019/07/17/only-arkansas-has-passed-term-limit-bill-in-2019.aspx.

  3. 3.

    Constitution of the State of Florida, Article 6, § 4.

  4. 4.

    Nevada Constitution, Article 4, § 3–4.

  5. 5.

    Last accessed October 6, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/12/us/top-massachusetts-court-overturns-term-limits.html.

  6. 6.

    The advancement opportunity score is “the product of the ratio of higher seats to lower house seats and the percentage of higher seats held by former lower house members” (Squire and Moncrief 2010, 110).

  7. 7.

    Constitution of the State of Oklahoma, § V-17A.

  8. 8.

    Former Oklahoma state senator Gene Stipe dies at 85, NewsOK 2012.

  9. 9.

    Former state senator Gene Stipe pleads ‘guilty’ in federal court, Associated Press 2003.

  10. 10.

    Constitution of California, Article 4, § 2.

  11. 11.

    Constitution of the State of Arkansas, Sect. 2, Amendment 73.

  12. 12.

    Constitution of the State of Michigan of 1963, Article 4, § 54.

  13. 13.

    Missouri Constitution, Article 3, § 8.

  14. 14.

    Original Source: Greg Upchurch. Quoted in Will Sentell, Kansas City Star, August 25, 1992.

  15. 15.

    Nebraska Constitution, Article 3, § 8.

  16. 16.

    These statements come from personal legislator interviews.

  17. 17.

    Arizona Constitution, Article 4, Part 2, § 21.

  18. 18.

    Constitution of the State of Colorado, Article 5, § 3.

  19. 19.

    Constitution of the State of Florida, Article 6, § 4.

  20. 20.

    Original source: Brown 1991, “A Crisis in Government.” The Ellsworth American. 17 October.

  21. 21.

    Me. Rev. Stat. Ann., Tit. 21-A, § 553.

  22. 22.

    Constitution of the State of Montana, Article 4, § 8.

  23. 23.

    See Squire (2017).

  24. 24.

    Ohio Constitution, Article 2, § 2.

  25. 25.

    Constitution of South Dakota, Article 3, § 6.

  26. 26.

    See Squire (2017).

  27. 27.

    Louisiana Constitution, Article 3, §4.

  28. 28.

    Good idea gone awry? How term limits impact sessions of Louisiana Legislature (2016).

  29. 29.

    Last accessed June 7, 2023 https://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/north-dakota-house-oks-measures-for-longer-term-limits-more-legislative-session-days/article_df26c454-c1bc-11ed-a32e-9f7ba0631066.html and https://csgmidwest.org/2022/11/18/a-look-at-how-the-2022-election-results-will-impact-state-policy-and-legislatures-in-the-midwest-in-the-year-ahead-and-beyond/.

  30. 30.

    Oregon Constitution, Article 2, § 19.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Political Science, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, USA

    Jordan Butcher

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Correspondence to Jordan Butcher .

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Butcher, J. (2023). The Push and Promise of Term Limits. In: Navigating Term Limits. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39423-2_2

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