Length of terms of state representatives
The length of terms of state representatives in the 49 American lower chambers is either two years or four years.
Representatives in five states (Alabama, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi and North Dakota) have a four-year term. Representatives in 44 states have a two-year term.
In contrast, term lengths of state senators are generally longer. State senators in only 12 states serve two-year terms. Thirty states have four-year terms for state senators. In the remaining eight states, senators serve one two-year term and two four-year terms every ten years in the 2-4-4 term system.
- See also: Length of terms of state senators
Length of terms
In the map below, the five dark blue states represent the lower chambers with four-year terms: Alabama, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi and North Dakota. The light blue states represent those with two-year terms.
State legislatures with term limits
- See also: State legislatures with term limits
In 15 state legislatures, state legislators are subject to term limits. Voters in six additional states voted to have term limits, only to have those votes nullified. In two cases, the state legislature voted to nullify the limits imposed by voters, while in four other states, courts nullified the voter-imposed limits, primarily for technical reasons.
Lifetime versus consecutive
Legislative term limits can be either lifetime or consecutive. In the ten states where the limits are consecutive, once a state legislator has served the maximum number of terms in office, he or she, if eligible, can run for office for the state's other legislative chamber, or leave the legislature. These states are Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, and South Dakota. After a period of time no longer in office in a particular legislative chamber, however, the legislator is allowed to run again for office in that legislative chamber. The period of time that a legislator must be out of office before being able to run again is usually two years.
In five of the 15 states with limits on state legislators, the limit is a lifetime limit. These states are California, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, and Oklahoma. In these states, once a legislator has served the maximum allowable number of terms in a particular legislative chamber, they may never again run for or hold office in that particular chamber.[1]
See also
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Footnotes
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