Title: Term Limits
Original CoS Document (slug): term-limits-2
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Attached File: Term_Limits.pdf
Created: 2023-07-21 10:10:58
Updated: 2024-07-21 23:00:00
Published: 2023-07-21 03:00:00
Converted: 2025-04-14T20:12:56.228507992
Grassroots Amendment Proposals
to set TERM LIMITS on Federal Officials and
Members of Congress and to limit the
JUDICIAL POWER & JURISDICTION of the
federal government
The proposals contained herein were submitted by grassroots activists
across the nation. They are reproduced here in essentially the same form
as they were received, and have not been substantively edited. Inclusion
of a proposal does not imply the support of Convention of States
Foundation.
TERM LIMITS AND
JUDICIAL POWER AND
JURISDICTION
1
Section 1
The U.S. Supreme Court Justice term expires after 16 years, becoming eligible for evacuation.
Longest served Justices exit first, but not until the President of the United States secures a new
Justice and and the U.S. Senate confirms.
Section 2
The President of the United States secures only one U.S. Supreme Court Justice once per four
year Presidential term to replace the most eligible Justice, only if any are eligible.
The President may only secure additional U.S. Supreme Court Justices in the cases of a U.S.
Supreme Court resignation, impeachment or death.
2
Section 1
U.S. Congress shall be term limited.
Section 2
The United States Senate shall serve no more than two six year terms. The United States
House of Representatives shall serve no more than eight two year terms.
Section 3
The combined service in both the United States Senate and the United States House of
Representatives shall not exceed a completion of sixteen years.
Section 4
An office for United States Senate or United States House of Representative shall not be
considered by any candidate if the full term considered exceeds limits already served that is
covered in Sections 2, and/or 3.
3
All Federal Officials, whether elected or appointed, are to be limited to a total of 32 years of
service either in a singular position or combination of positions, and regardless of age of the
individual.
4
No member of the House of Representative, the United States Senate, or the Supreme Court of
the United States shall serve more than twelve years in any one of the Legislative or Judicial
Branches of the Federal Government, or more than fifteen years in any combination of the
Legislative and Judicial Branches of Government. Upon ratification of this Amendment, any
incumbent member of Congress whose tenure or term exceeds the limits established herein shall
complete the current term, but thereafter shall be ineligible for further service as a member of
Congress or the Judiciary.
1
5
The Supreme Court of the United States shall be comprised of 9 Judges, each serving a single
term consisting of 12 years, delegated into three Classes of three Justices, which appointments
shall be staggered in four-year increments. Supreme Court Class Terms shall be staggered so as
begin on the 17th day of April, and end on the 16th day of April. Immediately upon ratification of
this Amendment, Congress will organize the justices of the Supreme Court into three classes,
with the justices assigned to each class in reverse seniority order, with the most senior justices in
the earliest classes. The terms of office for the justices in the First Class will expire on the 17th
day of April of the fourth Year following the ratification of this Amendment, the terms for the
justices of the Second Class will expire at the eighth April, and of the Third Class at the twelfth
April.
Any Justice’s seat which is vacated outside of the prescribed process (e.g., death or retirement
of a Justice) shall not be filled until the following presidential appointment, and the succeeding
Justice shall assume the “class” and tenure of the vacating Justice, resulting in a maximum term
for the succeeding Justice of only that balance remaining of the preceding Justice’s available
term.
7
Limit the terms of Congressmen to three terms of four years each, to amount to no more than 14
years, in the event the first term is started midterm. All Terms start any year except the year the
presidential term starts.
Limit terms of Senators to two terms of six years each, to amount to no more than 15 years, in
the event the first term is started midterm. All Terms start one or three years after the
presidential term starts.
No term of a Congressman nor Senator will start the same year of a presidential term, other than
when any of the forementioned are replaced midterm.
The pay of all Congressmen and Senators will be that of O-6 in the military, (Naval Captain/
Others Full Colonel) with ten years of service.
Annual financial audits shall be given to each Congressman and Senator to verify where all
income is derived and shall be supervised by a member of an opposing party.
8
A Judge on the Supreme Court may serve a term not exceeding 15 years providing all other
limits on behavior previously stated are met. A judge serving on an inferior court shall be limited
to a term not exceeding 7 years providing all other limits on behavior previously stated are met.
In no case may a person serve as a judge more than 22 years total.
9
A person serving in the house of representatives shall be limited to 6 two year terms or a total of
no more than 12 years in either house. A person in the senate shall limited to 2 six year terms or
a total of no more than 12 yesrs in either house. A person who serves first in one house and the
then other shall be limited to no more than 12 years total.
1
0
A person working for the federal government shall be limited to a maximum term of 12 years.
This includes persons who have served in the congress, political appointees and all others
working at federal agencies and bureaus. Should a person work in more than one of the above
listed areas that person shall be limited to not more than 12 years total. Judges are excluded
from the above limitations in term but shall be limited to a maximum of 15 years, Persons who
have been employed by the federal government are prohibited from private sector positions that
seek to influence legislators, or assisting in the legislative or judicial process.
2
1
1
Amendment to the Limit the Terms of Office for Members of Congress (12-Year Maximum) and Senior
Leadership Positions in Congress (3-Year Maximum)
Section 1.
No person shall be elected as a Member to the House of Representatives for more than six, two-year terms
of office.
Section 2.
No person shall be elected as a Senator to the Senate for more than two, six-year terms of office.
Section 3.
Notwithstanding Section 1 and Section 2 of this amendment, a person who has held office as a Member in
the House of Representatives or office as a Senator in the Senate, whether through election or appointment,
shall be subject to a lifetime restriction of no more than twelve years as a Member of the House of
Representatives or as a Senator in the Senate. Further, should a person have occasion to have served in
both the House of Representatives and the Senate, whether through election or appointment, such person
shall be subject to a lifetime restriction of no more than twelve years of total combined service in the
House of Representatives and in the Senate.
Section 4.
In addition to the provisions of Sections 1, 2, and 3 of this amendment, there shall be lifetime restriction of
no more than three years of service in the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives and in the
position of Senate Majority Leader. Further, should a person have occasion to have served in both the
House of Representatives and the Senate, whether through election or appointment, such person, if such
person has previously served as Speaker of the House of Representatives or as the Senate Majority Leader,
shall be ineligible to serve in the senior leadership position in the opposite chamber of Congress.
Section 5.
Notwithstanding the presence of any statute in existence at the time of passage of this amendment that sets
the date of election for Members of the House of Representatives or Senators in the Senate, elections for
such Members and Senators shall occur the first Tuesday in the month of November, in such year as shall
ensure that the provisions of Section 1, Section 2, Section 3, and Section 4 of this amendment shall be
given full force and effect. Further, for such elections occurring the first Tuesday in the month of
November, no ballots for the election of Members of the House of Representatives or Senators in the
Senators may be cast, or otherwise received, after 11:59 pm local time on such first Tuesday in the month
of November.
3
1
2
Amendment to Limit the Term of Office of the President of the United States (Single, Six-Year Term)
The twenty-second article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.
Section 1.
Subject to the provisions of Section 2, Section 3, Section 4, and Section 5 of this amendment, the term of
office of the President of the United States shall be six years.
Section 2.
Notwithstanding Section 1 of this amendment, for a person who has held the office of President, or
otherwise acted as President, in a Presidential term to which another person was elected President, such
person shall be eligible to be elected to the office of the President in the Presidential election immediately
following the Presidential term to which another person was elected, but only if such person’s service as
President or Acting President in a Presidential term to which another person was elected President was no
greater than two years, and such person who shall have held the office of President, or otherwise acted as
President, for a period not in excess of two years during a term to which another person was elected, shall,
in any event, only be eligible only for a Presidential term of four years.
Section 3.
A person who has served as Vice President in excess of three years during the Presidential term of a person
elected to a six-year Presidential term shall be eligible to be elected as President of the United States in the
Presidential election immediately following the term of the person elected to a six-year Presidential term,
but only to a Presidential term of office of four years.
Section 4.
Notwithstanding Section 1, Section 2, and Section 3 of this amendment, a person who has held the office
of the President, or otherwise acted as President, shall be subject to a lifetime restriction of no more than
eight years as President.
Section 5.
Notwithstanding the presence of any statute in existence at the time of passage of this amendment that sets
the date of a Presidential election, Presidential elections shall occur the first Tuesday in the month of
November, in such year as shall ensure that the provisions of Section 1, Section 2, Section 3, and Section 4
of this amendment shall be given full force and effect. Further, for such elections occurring the first
Tuesday in the month of November, no ballots for the election of Members of the House of
Representatives or Senators in the Senators may be cast, or otherwise received, after 11:59 pm local time
on such first Tuesday in the month of November.
1
3
Amendment to the Limit the Terms of Office of US Supreme Court Chief Justices and Associate Justices
(18 Years)
Section 1.
No person confirmed as either the Chief Justice or an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court
shall thereafter serve for more than eighteen years, regardless of whether such person, after initial
confirmation to the United States Supreme Court, serves in a capacity on the United States Supreme Court
different than such person’s originally confirmed position.
Section 2.
Any person formally nominated by the President of the United States to serve as judge or justice on an
Article III court, including the United States Supreme Court, shall receive a confirmation vote by the
United States Senate within one hundred days of such formal nomination.
4
1
4
Senators limited to 2 terms to equal 12 years. Representatives limited to 5 terms to equal 10
years. All cabinet appointed leadership positions limited to 8 years. All justice appointments
limited to 12 years. All civilian positions limited to 20 years while leadership roles requires 10
years of concurrent civilian service. All military leadership limited to 20 years while military
membership limited to 24 years.
1
5
Section 1:
No person shall be elected to the office of the Senate more than twice and no person who has
held the office of the Senate, or acted as Senator, for more than three years of a term to which
some other person was elected Senator shall be elected to the office of the Senate more than
once. This Article shall apply to any person holding the office of Senator when this Article was
proposed by the State Legislatures, and shall prevent any person who may be holding the office
of Senator, or acting as Senator, during the term within which this Article becomes operative,
from a further term in office if their tenure meets the conditions of this Article.
Section 2:
The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every fourth Year by the
People of the several States.
No person shall be elected to the office of the House of Representatives more than twice and no
person who has held the office of the House of Representatives, or acted as Congressperson,
for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected Congressperson shall
be elected to the office of the House of Representatives more than once. This Article shall apply
to any person holding the office of Congressperson when this Article was proposed by the State
Legislatures, and shall prevent any person who may be holding the office of Congressperson, or
acting as Congressperson, during the term within which this Article becomes operative, from a
further term in office if their tenure meets the conditions of this Article.
1
6
Section 1:
The Supreme Court of the United States shall be composed of Nine Members.
Section 2:
No person shall be appointed to the Supreme Court more than once, and shall serve at most for
Twelve consecutive years. This Article shall not apply to any person holding the position of
Supreme Court Justice when this Article was proposed by the State Legislatures, and shall not
prevent any person who may be holding the position of Supreme Court Justice, during the term
within which this Article becomes operative from holding the position of Supreme Court Justice,
during the remainder of such term.
1
7
Section 1- Citizens are eligible for only two 6 year terms in the United States Senate. See
Section 5
Section 2- Citizens are eligible for only six 2 year terms in the United States House of
Representatives- See Section 5
Section 3- no citizen shall serve more than 8 years in any federal government capacity outside of
Congress & the Supreme Court and not to exceed 24 years total in the federal government in
whatever combination of years & jobs make up those 24 years.
Section 4 - Senators may seek a 3rd term & House members may seek a 7th term provided the
nation does not carry a budget deficit going into the year of those elections. If members elected
to extra terms vote for budget deficits at any time after being elected to that extra term, a simple
majority of the body they're in may vote to expel them or a simple majority of their home state
legislature may also expel them.
5
1
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Section 1. No person shall serve more than twelve years in Congress, except as allowed by
Sections 2, 3, or 5 of this article.
Section 2. Representatives and Senators holding office when this article is ratified shall be
eligible to complete the term in office to which they were elected or appointed, and shall be
eligible to be additionally elected for either: six terms in the House of Representatives, or two
terms in the Senate.
Section 3. Representatives and Senators who have served in Congress for more than twenty
years when this article is ratified shall be eligible to complete the term in office to which they were
elected or appointed, and shall be eligible to be additionally elected for either: three terms in the
House of Representatives, or one term in the Senate, Section 2 notwithstanding.
Section 4. In the House of Representatives a term in office shall be four years, for persons
initially elected after ratification of this article.
Section 5. Filling a partially completed term, caused by a vacancy in the House of
Representatives or the Senate, shall not be considered in applying Section 1.
1
9
The president is limited to 6 years; senators 8 years; house reps 8; judges 12 years; ALL can be
reelected ONLY AFTER an equal amount of unelected years (out of office), including other
elected positions. In other words, “swapping” elected positions is allowed so long as one has the
requisite “down time” (out of office) from their prior elected role.
Administrative appointees are limited to the same term as the elected representative that
appointed them. They can serve consecutive terms ONLY if they are separately reappointed by
the next elected official to whom they are obliged.
2
0
Each Supreme Court Justice's term shall be limited to eight years. The commencement and end
of each Justice's term would be staggered in two groups, two years apart.
The transition to term limits would be achieved by having one group of incumbent Justice's term
end two years after the Amendment becomes law, and the second group, four years after the
Amendment becomes law.
6
2
1
*** Option 1 which takes a swipe at all federal careers in all branches - including the judiciary and
executive branch:
Section 1: No single person may serve in elected, appointed, employed or contracted positions
for the federal government for more than x years (I like 18 years), excluding any years of enlisted
or commissioned military service.
Section 2: Any person in an elected office as of the ratification of this amendment whose
term exceeds this limit may complete their elected term. Any person in an appointed, employed
or contracted position at the time this amendment is ratified may retain their existing position for
five additional years but shall not be allowed to change to another federal elected, appointed,
employed or contracted position during those five years.
*** Option 2, which includes only Congress, the presidency and appointed positions such as the
ambassadorships, cabinet positions and federal judges:
Section 1: No single person may serve in elected or appointed positions in the federal
government for more than x years (I like 18 years).
Section 2: Any person in an elected office as of the ratification of this amendment whose term
exceeds this limit may complete their elected term. Any person in an appointed position at the
time this amendment is ratified may continue to serve in that position for an additional five years
but shall not be allowed to change to another federal elected or appointed position during that
time.
*** Option 3 which includes only Congress and the Presidency:
Section 1: No single person may be elected to a federal office if their elected term would cause
them to exceed x years (I like 18 years) in elected federal office.
Section 2: Any person in an elected federal position as of the ratification of this amendment
whose term exceeds this limit may complete their elected term.
2
2
The supreme Court of the United States shall not exceed 9 justices, including the chief justice.
Each Justice of the supreme court shall be limited to one term of 7 years of service, except for
the chief justice, who shall be limited to one term of 9 years of service, each term beginning on
the day of installation on the court.
2
3
No person shall be eligible for election to either the United States House of Representatives or
the United States Senate having been previously elected to served a total of eight years
combined in either chamber.
2
4
Term Limits and Appointment of Senators
Section 1. Federal government service is a part-time service, not a career. No person shall hold
any federal office, appointed or elected, or employed, excluding military service members, and
federal law enforcement officers excluding their supervisors, management, and subordinates, for
more than two four terms in the same office or for more than sixteen years in total across all
federal offices. Federal law enforcement officers that transfer out of that of an enforcement officer
shall count their time in service for the purpose of this amendment. Terms served due to
succession or appointment to fill a vacancy shall not count towards these limits unless the term
exceeds half of the full-term length.
Section 2. Any sitting federal official at the time of ratification of this amendment shall be deemed
to start their time in office.
2
5
No individual may serve in federal elected offices – House, Senate, Vice President, and
President – for longer than twenty five years combined.
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2
6
Section 1.
No person elected to the Congress of the United States shall be permitted to serve combined
terms totaling more than twelve years in Congress. That is, six terms in the House of
Representatives; Or, two terms in the Senate; Or, three terms in the House and one term in the
Senate.
Section 2.
No government official shall serve beyond his or her Seventy Fifth birthday. No person elected to
Congress may run for re-election for a term in which he or she will reach their Seventy Fifth
Birthday. All government officials, elected or appointed, must pass a mental acuity test every two
years after their sixty fifth birthday.
2
7
Members of Congress shall serve no more than three consecutive terms. Members may run
again for 2 more terms after leaving office for 4 years. Senator can serve no more than two
consecutive 6 year terms. Senators may serve one more term after being out of office for four
years. Under no circumstances shall a Representative serve for more that 5 terms and Senators
serve for 3 terms. Section 2 will abolish the 17th amendment and return the original language of
the individual State Legislatures choosing the Senators.
2
8
Term limits for all elected officials. Representatives should be in office for only 4 or 6 years.
Senator's two terms in office for a term of 6 or 10 years.
8
2
9
Amendment to the Limit the Length of Employment or Appointment for Persons Who Perform Duties in
Either a Paid or Unpaid Capacity for Members of Congress (15-Year Maximum)
Section 1.
For persons who are employed or otherwise appointed to serve, whether in a paid or an unpaid capacity, on
the staff of any member of the House of Representatives or on the staff of any Senator, there shall be a
lifetime limitation of no more than fifteen years of such service.
Section 2.
The determination of the calculation of fifteen years of employment or appointed service identified in
Section 1 of this amendment shall include both prior service on the staff of a member of the House of
Representatives and prior service on the staff of a Senator.
Amendment to Give the President the Exclusive Authority to Make Annual Determinations as to Whether
to Allow the Continued Employment or Appointment of Persons Who Serve in Article II Senior Executive
Service or Senior Executive Service Equivalent Civil Service Positions Beyond Twenty-Five Years
Section 1.
For persons who are employed or otherwise appointed to serve in federal civil service positions at the
Senior Executive Service or Senior Executive Service Equivalent levels, or the equivalent of the same, the
President shall have the sole and exclusive authority to make annual, without cause, determinations as to
whether an individual will be allowed to continue service in the federal government, in any capacity, once
that individual has attained twenty-five years of compensated service.
Section 2.
Both prior civil service and prior military service in the employ of the United States shall be considered in
the determination of the calculation of twenty-five years of compensated service.
Section 3.
Notwithstanding any other legal authority below the level of an amendment to the Constitution that may be
in effect at the time this article is ratified, the President’s sole and exclusive authority to make twenty-five
year continued service determinations under this amendment shall not be reviewable by any judicial,
quasi-judicial, or adjudicative person, court, or process, regardless of whether such judicial, quasi-judicial,
or adjudicative person, court, or process asserts jurisdiction under Article I, or under Article II, or under
any State or any sub-division of a State.
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THE CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS AMENDMENT
SECTION 1: The 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution is hereby repealed, and
the length of service for Congressional Office shall be changed as follows:
a)
A United States citizen, duly elected to the House of Representatives, shall serve no
more than one term in said Office, which shall be no longer than four consecutive years in length;
b)
A United States citizen, duly elected by their State Legislature to represent the State in
the United States Senate, shall serve no more than one term in said Office, which shall be no
longer than six consecutive years in length.
31
Section 1. Service in the government is a service to the public, not for the benefit of the
employee. To reduce the power of entrenched bureaucrats with little knowledge of the outside
world, no person shall accumulate more than 30 years of federal employment in any capacities
during their life. This includes but is not limited to civil service, military service, appointed officials,
and elected office.
Section 2. Persons already with 25 or more years of federal service upon ratification of this
amendment are immune from section 1.
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32
If at any time a Supreme Court decision is found repugnant to the Republic, as evidenced by a
three-fifths majority vote of the respective State legislatures, or by three-fifths majority votes in
both chambers of Congress, such decision shall be expunged from the records as though it
had never occurred.
33
It is hereby established that interpretation of all Constitutional matters shall be limited to text
as informed by history, focusing on the meaning and principles contemporary to the passage
of the Constitution/Amendment.
34
The Supreme court shall be composed of one justice from each state. The justices shall be
selected by the state legislatures for a term determined by the respective legislature.
10
9
1. Basic structure of the court. The Supreme Court must consist of a pool of Justices, with the
total number of Justices equal to the number of states in the Union. [This is to greatly increase
the number of SCOTUS decisions in a year by providing for several concurrent courts.] For
any case coming before the Supreme Court, exactly nine Justices are assigned from that pool
to be the panel of Justices for that case. [This is to permanently limit the court to nine Justices,
which seems to be an appropriate panel.] The decision of any such panel is final, with no
higher appeal available. [This is to prevent multiple appeals, hoping to get a more favorable
panel.]
2. Appointing Justices to the Supreme Court. Each state appoints to the Supreme Court one
appropriately qualified [e.g., a JD degree plus X years on the bench; maybe require American
citizenship] Justice from its own citizens, [i.e., each appointed Justice must be a citizen of the
state that appoints him or her] selecting the appointee in accordance with that state’s law.
Each state can recall and replace its own appointee at any time [It might be better to say that a
recalled Justice must complete all active cases, but cannot be added to any new ones. This
would minimize the disruption to active cases, but it might also be better for some cases to get
a misbehaving Justice removed immediately.] and for any reason in accordance with that
state’s law. [This is to prevent the politicizing of presidential appointments and Senate
confirmations. It also removes the “lifetime appointment.”]
3. Justice assignment to cases. Justices must be assigned to cases from the pool at
random [I’m not sure how the random selections should be made. There must be system that
allows for the restrictions but that is still efficient. A computerized system would be easy
enough to program, but might be too susceptible to hacking and manipulation. I don’t think we
want to make the process appear frivolous by having numbered ping-pong balls dropping out
of a cage like a lottery. Nor do we want it to become a televised spectacle.], but with the
following restrictions. (1) No Justice may serve on more than ten case panels at one time.
[This is just to even out the workload of the Justices. Actually, I have no idea what would be an
appropriate limit. I just wanted to have a number here.] (2) At least 15 Justices must be
available for assignment to a case before a selection can be made. [This is to improve the
randomization of assigning Justices to cases. If the number is too small, it might be easier to
rig the system. Again, I’m guessing at what would be an appropriate number.] No minimum
availability is required when assigning Justices to legislative bill review panels (section 4). (3)
Whenever the panel for an active case loses a Justice (such as by recall from his or her state,
a Justice recusing himself or herself, or a health issue), a replacement Justice must be
assigned at random from the pool [This is to prevent a Justice from trying to rig the system by
recusing himself from one case to get assigned to another specific case that he wants to be on
for personal reasons. But I’m not sure about this. I don’t know what happens now if a Justice is
lost for some reason during an active case. Perhaps the remaining Justices should decide
whether to replace the missing one or just continue the case short one Justice. If they are near
the beginning, maybe it would be best to replace the Justice and start over. If they are near the
end, maybe it would be best to just finish with eight, especially if the outcome will likely be
unaffected. It might be difficult to add a new Justice mid-case and bring him or her up to speed
without starting over.], but under no circumstances may a Justice be replaced on a panel by
another Justice from the same state. [This is to prevent a state from trying to rig the system by
swapping their own Justices to get a particular Justice on a specific case.]
4. Review of legislative bills. Before any bill from either chamber of Congress can be
passed from committee to the floor of the chamber, it must be reviewed by the Supreme Court
for constitutionality. This review must be performed by a panel of three Justices, randomly
assigned in accordance with paragraph 3. Likewise, before any bill that has been passed by
both chambers of Congress can be sent to the President for signature, it must be reviewed by
the Supreme Court for constitutionality. This review must be performed by a panel of five
Justices, randomly assigned in accordance with paragraph 3. These reviews do not prevent
the constitutionality of any passed legislation from being challenged at a later time. [This is to
prevent clearly unconstitutional bills from getting enacted, wasting the time and expense of
litigation after the fact. A panel of Justices reviewing them should prevent too much influence
from politically motivated activist Justices. I expect these reviews to happen fairly quickly: from
a few days to a few weeks at most. Perhaps a time requirement should be added to this
11
17
The federal government shall have no authority to define or regulate marriage, including by the
use of federal funds.
19
When considering cases, Federal judges must base their decisions solely on the US
Constitution and US Law. They may not cite what other countries are doing.
21
The words of this Constitution [and any amendments] shall have the meanings as understood
by those who authored and ratified such words.
22
SECTION 1. The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any
matter that would deny the equal protection of the law to an unborn child regardless of stage
of development, age, health, level of functioning, or condition of dependency, thereby such
unborn child is a person and possesses the rights that inhere in a person even though he is
incapable himself to assert them.
SECTION 2. This Article shall be effective immediately upon the date of its ratification.
23
SECTION 1. The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any
matter that would inhibit the States in choosing both direct and indirect methods for the
apportionment of their state legislative districts.
SECTION 2. This Article shall be effective three years from the date of its ratification.
26
The fundamental right of private property ownership takes priority over any government taking
of a property if it is to be transferred to private or commercial owners for any reason, in whole
or in part.
Once taken, it must remain a public property for XX years, and may only be offered for sale
with a first right of refusal to the property owner or owner's estate at the same sale price as the
original compensation amount ( for xx years.)
The taking of property at any level of government may not be made on the basis of a potential
increase in the tax basis of the property. It may only be done for public projects that benefit all
citizens equally and adequately compensate the owner based on the current or projected
value, whichever is higher.
27
All Federal agency regulations shall have mandatory sunset periods of not less than 8 years
that require Congress to act if it is to be retained.
12
31
Section 1. Upon ratification of this amendment, the maximum number of Justices on the
Supreme Court shall be nine, and all nine shall have a lifetime appointment.
The court shall compose of two groups of Justices: Senior, and Junior.
On the fourth March 1st after ratification of this amendment, the maximum number of Junior
Justices on the Supreme Court shall increase to one.
On the eighth March 1st after ratification of this amendment, the maximum number of Junior
Justices on the Supreme Court shall increase to two.
Every four years on March 1st after ratification, the maximum number of Junior Justices will
increase by one until the maximum number of Junior Justices reaches 14, which combined
with the 9 Senior Justices is 23 justices, which occurs 56 years after ratification.
Section 2. Starting eight years after ratification of this amendment, when an opening arises in
the Senior Justices, if the President chooses to fill the vacant seat, he must choose a
candidate for nomination from the sitting Junior justices. Said candidate must be at least 45
years old, and been at least seven years a citizen of the United States, and at least four years
a Junior justice. Candidate must be approved with the Advice and Consent of the Senate,
meaning the new Senior Justice will have been approved by the Senate at least twice. The
President is under no obligation to fill a Senior appointment, and may leave that seat open.
Section 3. When an opening arises in the Junior Justices, to include after a Junior Justice is
promoted, the President nominates. To be nominated as a Junior justice, a person must be at
least 35 years old, and been at least three years a citizen of the United States. Junior justices
shall have a 21 year term. Upon completion of this term, if nominated for a second term by the
President, that incumbent justice requires approval of only one third of the Senate. If not
nominated for a second term by the President, the incumbent justice can be re-nominated by
any Senator, and be approved by a two thirds majority, which will preclude the President from
nominating a replacement justice. New justices nominated by the President always require a
simple majority in the Senate. In the event a Justice dies, resigns, or is promoted, there will be
no partial remaining term – the new Justice will be appointed for 21 years starting the day of
their approval by the Senate.
Section 4: Every other October, the Senior Justices choose by ballot amongst themselves the
Chief Justice, who shall serve for a two year term. To qualify, a Chief Justice must be at least
50 years of age, born an American citizen, served as a Supreme Court justice for at least
seven years, currently be a Senior Justice, and have a lifetime of no felony convictions. The
Chief Justice presides over the trial of an impeached Vice President as well as President. He
presides over oral arguments before the Supreme Court, and manages the administrative
matters of the Supreme Court.
Section 5. In deciding cases, the Chief Justice has three votes, the other Senior Justices have
two votes each, the Junior Justices have one vote each.
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