A JOINT RESOLUTION applying for an Article V convention to propose an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to set a limit on the number of terms of office for members of Congress.
Summary
SJR17 is a joint resolution by the Kentucky General Assembly that applies for an Article V convention of the states for the limited purpose of proposing a federal constitutional amendment imposing term limits on members of Congress. The resolution specifically seeks to limit the number of terms a person may be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and it frames the effort as a response to the perceived incumbency advantage and concentration of political power in Congress.
The resolution also directs the Secretary of State to transmit copies to federal officials and to the presiding officers of other state legislatures, signaling that Kentucky intends its application to be counted with similar applications from other states. It states that the application is limited to this single subject, is not to be aggregated with applications on other topics, and remains a continuing application until two-thirds of the states have made the same request.
Impact
If adopted, SJR17 would not itself impose term limits on federal legislators; instead, it would add Kentucky to the list of states formally requesting Congress to call a limited Article V convention on congressional term limits. The practical legal effect is to support a multi-state constitutional amendment process, while leaving current federal election rules unchanged unless and until an amendment is proposed and ratified. The resolution does not amend Kentucky statutes, but it would create an official state application tied to the federal constitutional amendment process and could be used in counting toward the two-thirds threshold needed to compel a convention.
Sentiment
The bill’s tone is strongly supportive of term limits and reflects a reform-oriented sentiment that congressional incumbency has become too entrenched. The findings in the resolution suggest a belief that term limits would rebalance power among the states and make leadership more merit-based. No committee testimony or recorded votes were provided, so the available context shows only the resolution’s affirmative framing and no documented opposition or amendment activity.
Contention
The main point of contention is the use of an Article V convention to pursue term limits, which can raise concerns about the scope and control of a convention process even among supporters of term limits. The resolution itself anticipates a narrow convention limited to this subject, but critics of convention-based approaches often worry about broader constitutional changes or uncertainty in the process. Another likely debate point is whether term limits would improve accountability and reduce careerism, as supporters claim, or instead reduce institutional experience and shift power toward unelected actors and lobbyists; however, no direct committee objections or vote split are available in the provided record.
A JOINT RESOLUTION applying for an Article V convention to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for federal government officials and members of Congress.
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