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Our mission is to reform the United States Congress and restore better government for all Americans.

Our goals include: removal of career politicians from the U.S. Congress, reinstatement of a citizen legislature, limiting the influence of special interests in government, and curbing the corrosive culture of corruption that flourishes in Congress.

To achieve our mission and accomplish our goals, we have to pass a new constitutional amendment that defines the number of terms and years that anyone elected to Congress may serve.

Following is the amendment language that we propose.

We have also included a plain English summary of our proposal, and a discussion of why we believe this amendment will best achieve the desired results.

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OUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Section 1.

No person shall be elected to the office of Representative more than four consecutive times, and no person who has held the office of Representative, or acted as a Representative, for more than one year of a term to which some other person was elected Representative, may be elected to the office of Representative more than three consecutive times.

This article shall not apply to any person holding the office of Representative when this article was proposed, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of Representative, or acting as Representative, during the term within which this article becomes operative from holding the office of Representative or acting as Representative during the remainder of such term or any successive terms so long as they are lawfully elected.

Furthermore, any former Representative may be elected to a subsequent four consecutive terms of Representative office after a period of four years (two terms) from the date he initially relinquished his previous Representative office has expired.

Section 2.

No person shall be elected to the office of Senator more than two consecutive times, and no person who has held the office of Senator, or acted as Senator, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected Senator, may be elected to the office of the Senate more than once.

This article shall not apply to any person holding the office of Senator when this article was proposed, and shall not 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 holding the office of Senator or acting as Senator during the remainder of such term or any successive terms so long as they are lawfully reelected.

Furthermore, any former Senator may be elected to a subsequent two consecutive terms of Senate office after a period of six years (one term) from the date he initially relinquished his previous Senate office has expired.

Section 3.

Whereas some may be elected to the House of Representatives and subsequently to the Senate, and whereas some may be elected to the Senate and subsequently to the House of Representatives, each shall be subject to the term limits of their respective office. In no event shall any member of Congress hold office as Representative and Senator for more than twenty consecutive years of combined congressional service.

PROPOSAL SUMMARY:

1. Representatives may be elected to four consecutive terms of two years each, but must leave office for at least two terms (four years) before being eligible to be elected to the House again. However, they are not denied the opportunity to be subsequently elected to the Senate, subject to the two term rule.

2. Senators may be elected to two consecutive terms of six years each, but must leave office for at least one term (six years) before running for Senate office again. However, they are not denied the opportunity to be subsequently elected to the House of Representatives, subject to the four term rule.

3. Any congressman holding office when this amendment is passed and becomes active is exempt from these term limits provisions and may continue to be reelected to office for as many terms as their constituents desire.

4. Representatives who have served their limit of terms may subsequently be elected to the Senate; and Senators who have served their limit of terms may subsequently be elected to the House, but no one may serve more than twenty consecutive years of combined congressional service before leaving office for a reasonable period of years to reacquaint themselves with real world issues before being eligible for election to Congress again.

DISCUSSION AND DEBATE

ACT NOW! believes this proposed amendment language is fair and equitable for all concerned and should be adopted immediately into our Constitution:

1. It reasonably limits the number of consecutive terms and years that anyone may serve in Congress.

2. It allows incumbent congressmen to retain their office so long as they are subsequently reelected by their constituents (a provision we believe necessary to provide cover for incumbents in Congress to pass our amendment), and applies term limits only to newly elected congressmen.

3. It does not deny former congressmen the right to serve in Congress again; or the right of citizens to reelect former congressmen that served them well before.

   It allows former congressmen to run for election again after returning to private life for a reasonable period of years to regain experience and perspective by living in the real world, and develop a sensitivity to the issues that are important to their constituents at that time.

4. Nothing in our proposed amendment prohibits any member of Congress from aspiring to other elective government office at any time, whether they have reached the limits of their congressional terms or not.

For our amendment to become law, it must first be introduced in Congress and then passed by vote of two thirds of both Houses of Congress -- or -- two thirds of the states may call for Congress to convene a Constitutional Convention to pass our amendment.

Once passed by Congress or states convention, this amendment must then be ratified by three quarters of the states legislatures to become law.

We welcome public comment and debate on this proposed amendment language in order to perfect language that will help accomplish our goals. All concerned citizens are welcome to join our blog and express their views.

We need all concerned Americans to join with us and add their voices to ours as we campaign for this urgently needed congressional reform. Please support our cause with your votes, your generous donations and by volunteering your time and talents to our success. Together, we can restore better government for all of us!

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"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do    for your country."   -- John F. Kennedy

We must unite as American patriots and work as one to reform Congress and restore accountability to the People again.

Together we can and will redeem the confidence and respect that our democratic government rightly deserves!

Remember, one person like you can make a real difference and help determine the future course of human events.   Each and every one of us holds this incredible power in our hands!

Please support our efforts with your generous contribution of $10, $25, $50 or more, and please be sure to sign our petition for congressional reform, then either mail or email copies of this petition to your state and federal legislators!

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