The key facts

  • Hillary Clinton called term limits 'artificial' and urged that the question be decided by voting
  • The US has no restrictions on the number of congressional re-elections; introducing limits would require a constitutional amendment
  • Clinton has previously also opposed a mandatory retirement age for politicians

Clinton against term limits

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday that she does not support introducing term limits for elected officials. 'I don't agree with term limits. I think they're artificial,' she told journalist and podcast host Kara Swisher, who argued for the need for some kind of restrictions — by age, years of service, or number of terms. According to Clinton, the choice should be made by the voter: if, in a voter's opinion, a candidate should not be re-elected, one simply should not vote for them.

Context of the debate

The statement came amid renewed disputes in the US over how long members of Congress may hold their posts. The House of Representatives is elected for two years, the Senate for six, but neither chamber limits the number of re-elections. Supporters of term limits argue that they would stimulate political renewal, weaken the advantages of incumbent lawmakers, and prevent power from being held for decades. Opponents believe that restrictions deprive voters of the right to keep experienced representatives and could strengthen the influence of unelected congressional staff, lobbyists, and interest groups.

Legal framework

Introducing term limits for Congress would require an amendment to the US Constitution: it would need to receive two-thirds of the votes in both chambers and ratification by three-quarters of the states, or be proposed by a constitutional convention upon the request of two-thirds of state legislatures. US presidents are subject to a separate restriction — the 22nd Amendment, which generally limits them to two elected terms. Clinton, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate in 2016, has previously also spoken out against a mandatory retirement age and term limits, insisting that voters should evaluate candidates individually at the polls.