A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION APPLYING FOR A UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION ARTICLE V AMENDMENTS CONVENTION SPECIFICALLY RELATING TO CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS.
Summary
Senate Concurrent Resolution 513 is a Mississippi application under Article V of the U.S. Constitution asking Congress to call a convention of the states for one specific purpose: proposing a federal constitutional amendment imposing term limits on members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. The resolution states that Mississippi supports congressional term limits and seeks to join other states in reaching the two-thirds threshold needed to trigger an amendments convention.
The measure also declares that Mississippi’s application is limited to the subject of congressional term limits and should be counted only with other states’ applications on that same topic. It further provides that the application is a continuing one until enough states have applied, and directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies to federal and state legislative leaders and Mississippi’s congressional delegation.
Impact
If adopted, the resolution would not directly change Mississippi statutory law, but it would place Mississippi on record as formally requesting an Article V convention limited to congressional term limits. Its practical effect would be to add Mississippi to the pool of states whose applications may be aggregated toward the constitutional threshold for Congress to call a convention on this subject. The resolution also creates a continuing application mechanism and requires official transmittal to federal and state officials, but it does not itself impose term limits or alter the qualifications for federal office.
Sentiment
The available text suggests strong support for the concept of congressional term limits, with the resolution’s findings expressly stating that the Legislature favors such an amendment. No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no documented floor debate or recorded opposition in the supplied materials. Based on the bill language alone, the sentiment appears favorable and reform-oriented, centered on limiting tenure in Congress.
Contention
The main point of contention inherent in the measure is the use of an Article V convention to pursue constitutional change, which can raise concerns about the scope and control of such a convention even when the application is limited to one subject. Another likely area of debate is whether congressional term limits are a desirable reform at all, with supporters viewing them as a check on entrenched incumbency and opponents potentially arguing they reduce voter choice and institutional experience. The bill text itself attempts to address the first concern by specifying that the application is limited to term limits only and should not be aggregated with applications on other subjects.