Kentucky state senate candidate Dallas Robinson, representing district 14, has publicly committed to supporting a constitutional amendment to limit terms for members of Congress. Robinson made the commitment by signing a pledge provided by U.S. Term Limits (USTL) on January 19, 2026.
The Push for Term Limits
USTL, described as the leader in the national, non-partisan movement for congressional term limits, is actively seeking support from state lawmakers. Their goal is to secure applications from 34 states requesting an Article V convention dedicated to proposing a term limits amendment. The organization believes this is the most viable path forward, following a 1995 Supreme Court decision in Thornton v. U.S. Term Limits, which stated that only a constitutional amendment could impose term limits on federal legislators.
According to USTL’s Chief Executive Officer, Nick Tomboulides, the Constitution allows amendments to be proposed by either two-thirds of Congress or two-thirds of the states. He acknowledged the unlikelihood of Congress proposing term limits on itself, citing potential self-interest, and emphasized the importance of state legislator involvement. Any proposed amendment would then require ratification by 38 states.
Bipartisan Support
USTL points to a recent Pew Research Center poll indicating widespread support for term limits. The poll, conducted in September 2023, found that 87% of Americans favor limiting the number of terms served by members of Congress, with 56% strongly in favor. Tomboulides stated that “more than 87% of Americans have rejected the career politician model.”
USTL clarifies that it does not endorse candidates, but rather seeks pledges from those who support the organization’s goal of limiting terms for all members of Congress as an institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Article V convention?
According to USTL, an Article V convention is a method outlined in the U.S. Constitution for proposing amendments. It requires applications from two-thirds of the states to convene and propose amendments, which then must be ratified by 38 states.
What did the Supreme Court say about term limits?
In the 1995 case Thornton v. U.S. Term Limits, the Supreme Court stated that only a constitutional amendment could limit the terms of U.S. Senators and House Representatives.
Does U.S. Term Limits endorse candidates?
No, U.S. Term Limits does not endorse candidates. However, candidates who sign the term limits convention pledge publicly endorse the concept of term limits.
Given the strong public support and the ongoing efforts to secure state legislator commitments, what role do you believe grassroots movements will play in shaping the future of congressional term limits?
