Values for America · Brief for congressional offices

To the office of U.S. Representative Johnny Olszewski

Re: HJRES 174 (119th Congress), Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide for term limits for justices of the Supreme Court. · Latest action (2026-05-04): Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
VFA SI Solution #26 · published 2026-05-14 · https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/26
Office of record (Congress.gov): 1339 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC · (202) 225-3061

Supreme Court Term Limits Constitutional Amendment

The measure, as described from the official record: To impose term limits on Supreme Court justices by amending Article III to replace life tenure with fixed terms, promoting rotation and accountability.

The proposal

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to limit Supreme Court justices to a single 18-year nonrenewable term, staggered for smooth transitions. Section 1: Justices of the Supreme Court shall hold office for one term of 18 years from the date of their commission. No justice may serve more than one term. Section 2: Terms are staggered so that the term of one justice expires every two years on January 1. The President nominates a replacement for Senate confirmation within the year prior to expiration. Vacancies before term end are filled for the remainder plus a full new term. Section 3: This article applies only to justices commissioned after ratification. Incumbent justices retain tenure during good behavior until resignation, retirement, or removal. Section 4: Congress may enforce this article through laws on term administration, nominations, and transitions. Ratification by three-fourths of states within seven years.

Operative provisions (VFA proposal)

funding source: Existing congressional appropriations for legislative operations
funding amount: $0 additional
sunset years: 7 years
oversight body: Archivist of the United States (National Archives)
enforcement mechanism: Ratification by 38 state legislatures or conventions, certified by Archivist
effective date: Upon Archivist certification

Constitutional basis

Article V (proposing amendments by 2/3 Congress)
Article III, Section 1 (altering judicial tenure during good behavior)

Why both sides can back it (VFA’s assessment)

Honors Democratic priorities of judicial accountability and reform to counter long-term ideological majorities; honors Republican priorities of term limits, fresh perspectives, and checks on unaccountable lifetime power.

Values for America is a nonpartisan, constitution-first SI think tank. This brief is informational. It is a policy proposal, not law, and it does not support or oppose any candidate or party. Full analysis and sources: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/26 · Methodology: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/methodology