15 States That Use Term Limits on Their Lawmakers

Published: 31 Oct, 2019
1 min read

Term limits are arguably the most popular political reform in the US. McLaughlin and Associates found in February 2018 that 82% of US voters support term limits for Congress, including 89% of Republicans, 76% of Democrats, and 83% of Independents.

Most states -- 36 to the exact -- impose some type of term limits on their governor, much like there is a 2-term limit for president. However, on the legislative side, the number is significantly diminished. While 21 states have passed term limits for their respective legislature at one point or another, only 15 currently use them.

Here are those states:

Arizona

In 1992, Arizona voters overwhelmingly approved term limits on state legislators with 74.2% of the vote. State legislators can serve up to 8 years in each chamber. However, the 8 years is not a lifetime total. Politicians can serve up to the limit in one chamber, seek election in the other chamber, and serve another 8 years.

In this article

You Might Also Like

SCOTUS
Independents Respond: Should There Be Supreme Court Term Limits?
IVN asked its audience if they support term limits for the US Supreme Court after President Joe Biden announced his position that justices should be limited to 18-year terms instead of a lifetime appointment as stipulated in the US Constitution....
31 Jul, 2024
-
4 min read
image article
Would Term Limits for the House and Senate Encourage Bipartisanship?
Editor's Note: The pieces below feature two sides to the debate on term limits from Jonathan Simpson...
12 Apr, 2022
-
17 min read
“Cartoon illustration of Americans facing the U.S. Capitol as light pierces through red and blue partisan cracks, representing independent voters and hope for political reform.”
New Poll: Voters Want New Leadership – and They’re Turning to Independents
A new poll from the Independent Center highlights a clear message from the public: Americans are fed up with the current political leadership, and they’re ready for change....
12 Nov, 2025
-
2 min read
Massachusetts voters.
Ranked Choice Voting Momentum Surges in Massachusetts as Cities Push for Local Control
Ranked choice voting (RCV) continues to see a surge in momentum across the U.S. However, the state that has seen the largest reform growth in the last 5 years -- Massachusetts -- has received little attention. This is because the 10 cities that have approved RCV have not been able to implement it due to state law....
14 Nov, 2025
-
5 min read
Caution tape with US Capitol building in the background.
Did the Republicans or Democrats Start the Gerrymandering Fight?
The 2026 midterm election cycle is quickly approaching. However, there is a lingering question mark over what congressional maps will look like when voters start to cast their ballots, especially as Republicans and Democrats fight to obtain any electoral advantage possible. ...
11 Nov, 2025
-
8 min read