This article is about the legal and political issue; for the book by Vince Flynn see Term Limits (novel). This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2007) See also: Rotation in office A term limit is a legal restriction when that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for life". Sometimes, there is an absolute limit on the number of terms a person can serve, while, in other cases, the restrictions are merely on the number of consecutive terms a person can serve. Contents 1 Use of term limits 1.1 Ancient history 1.2 Modern history 1.2.1 Categories 2 Notable people benefiting from relaxed term limits 3 See also 4 References 5 External links Use of term limits See also: List of political term limits Ancient history

Term limits have a long history. Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, two early civilizations which had elected offices, both imposed limits on some positions. In ancient Athenian democracy, no citizen could serve on the council of 500, or boule, for two consecutive annual terms, nor for more than two terms in his lifetime, nor be head of the boule more than once. In the Roman Republic, a law was passed imposing a limit of a single term on the office of censor. The annual magistrates—tribune of the plebs, aedile, quaestor, praetor, and consul—were forbidden reelection until a number of years had passed.1 (see cursus honorum, Constitution of the Roman Republic). Modern history

Many modern presidential republics employ term limits for their highest offices. The United States placed a limit of two terms on its presidency by means of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution in 1951. There are no term limits for Vice Presidency, Representatives and Senators, although there have been calls for term limits for those offices. Under various state laws, some state governors and state legislators have term limits. Formal limits in America date back to the 1682 Pennsylvania Charter of Liberties, and the colonial frame of government of the same year, authored by William Penn and providing for triennial rotation of the provincial council, the upper house of the colonial legislature.2 (See also term limits in the United States).

The Russian Federation has a rule for the head of state that allows the President of Russia to serve more than two terms if not consecutive (as in the case of Vladimir Putin). For governors of federal subjects, the same two-term limit existed until 2004, but now there are no term limits for governors. Term limits are also common in Latin America, where most countries are also presidential republics. Early in the last century, the Mexican revolutionary Francisco Madero popularized the slogan Sufragio Efectivo, no Reelección (effective suffrage, no reelection). In keeping with that principle, members of the Congress of Mexico (the Chamber of Deputies and Senate) cannot be reelected for the next immediate term under article 50 and 59 of the Constitution of Mexico, adopted in 1917. Likewise, the President of Mexico is limited to a single six-year term. This makes every presidential election in Mexico a non-incumbent election.

Countries that operate a parliamentary system of government are less likely to employ term limits on their leaders. This is because such leaders rarely have a set "term" at all: rather, they serve as long as they have the confidence of the parliament, a period which could potentially last for life. Many parliaments can be dissolved for snap elections which means some parliaments can last for mere months while others can continue until its expiration date. Nevertheless, such countries may impose term limits on the holders of other offices—in republics, for example, a ceremonial presidency may have a term limit, especially if the office holds reserve powers. Categories

Term limits may be divided into two broad categories: consecutive and lifetime. With consecutive term limits, a legislator is limited to serving a particular number of years in that particular office. Upon hitting the limit in one office or chamber, a legislator may run for election to the other chamber or leave the legislature. After a set period of time (usually two years), the clock resets on the limit, and the legislator may run for election to his/her original seat and serve up to the limit again. With lifetime limits, once a legislator has served up to the limit, she/he may never again run for election to that office. Lifetime limits are much more restrictive than consecutive limits.

Offices of local government, such as a mayoralty, may also have term limits. Examples include Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, New York City and Los Angeles, California. Notable people benefiting from relaxed term limits This section is incomplete and may require expansion or cleanup. Please help to improve the article, or discuss the issue on the talk page. (January 2011) Names indexed by surnames Countries and localities Official positions Earlier term limits Later term limits Bloomberg, Michael United States: New York: New York City Mayor (2002-present) 2 terms of 4 years 3 terms of 4 years since 2008 Chiang Kai-shek China, Republic of (Mainland and Taiwan Eras) President (1948-1975) 2 terms of 6 years Unlimited terms of 6 years since 19603 See also Term limits in the United States Term of office References ^ Robert Struble, Jr., Treatise on Twelve Lights, chapter six, part II, "Rotation in History." ^ Francis N. Thorpe, ed., The Federal and State Constitutions, Colonial Charters, and other Organic Laws..., 7 vols. (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1909) 5:3048, 3055-56, 3065. ^ Based on the amended Temporary Provisions Effective During the Period of Communist Rebellion until it was abolished in 1991. External links Real Term Limits: Now More Than Ever, an article by Doug Bandow in favor of term limits. Legislative Term Limits: An Overview, Term-Limits Information from the National Conference of State Legislatures.