Proposed Constitutional Amendment for Supreme Court Term Limits
May 4, 2026
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Where This Stands
Currently in_committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →The Frame
If passed by Congress and ratified by three-fourths of the states, this amendment would change the lifetime appointment structure of the Supreme Court, potentially resulting in the immediate removal of current justices who have served 18 years or longer.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Supreme Court Justices
Justices would be subject to an 18-year term limit, with current justices having served 18+ years facing immediate termination.
State Legislatures
State legislatures are responsible for the ratification process required to make the amendment part of the Constitution.
Current stage: in_committee.
Floor Vote.
Summary
Key Facts
- The resolution proposes a constitutional amendment limiting Supreme Court justice tenure to 18 years.
- The amendment requires ratification by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states to become law.
- Justices serving at the time of ratification who have already served 18 years or more would have their terms terminated.
- If a Chief Justice is removed due to the 18-year limit, the position would be filled according to existing law.
- The resolution requires a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate to proceed to the states for ratification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Would this apply to justices currently on the Supreme Court?
What happens if a Chief Justice is removed under this rule?
How does a constitutional amendment become law?
Why It Matters
If passed by Congress and ratified by three-fourths of the states, this amendment would change the lifetime appointment structure of the Supreme Court, potentially resulting in the immediate removal of current justices who have served 18 years or longer.
News Coverage
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Mandatory Removal Provision
The bill includes an explicit provision for the immediate termination of current justices who have already met the 18-year threshold upon ratification.
Connected Entities
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance95How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy85Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment40Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz75Current news / social attention level
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