Legislators’ Term Limits

With the Colorado legislature starting again, there is interest in term limits. Below is state and federal information about this topic.

TERMS OF COLORADO AND U.S. LEGISLATORS:

The terms and limitations of Colorado legislators: *
Statute text
(1) Senators shall be elected for the term of four years and representatives for the term of two years.
(2) In order to broaden the opportunities for public service and to assure that the general assembly is representative of Colorado citizens, no senator shall serve more than two consecutive terms in the senate, and no representative shall serve more than four consecutive terms in the house of representatives. This limitation on the number of terms shall apply to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 1991. Any person appointed or elected to fill a vacancy in the general assembly and who serves at least one-half of a term of office shall be considered to have served a term in that office for purposes of this subsection (2). Terms are considered consecutive unless they are at least four years apart.

Terms of U.S. Representatives and Senators: **

The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states…

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six years; and each senator shall have one vote.

* From the Constitution of Colorado, 2005, Art.V, Section 3
* * From the Constitution of the United States, 2005, Art. I, Sections 2 and 3

State Publications Library Staff
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