State Legislative Term Limits: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
1. 1
Chris Mooney, Director
Institute of Government and Public Affairs
University of Illinois
Paul Simon Institute Term Limits Conference
Union League Club of Chicago
April 7, 2014
2. Founded by Bruce Rauner and closely
associated with him
http://termlimitsandreform.com/
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3. The legislative article only
Signatures needed: 8% of votes cast in
previous gubernatorial election
Collected between 24 and 6 months
prior to the general election
3/5 of those voting on the amendment or
a majority of those voting in the election
“Structural and procedural subjects”
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4. No person may serve more than eight years in the
General Assembly.
No person may be elected or appointed as Senator
or Representative if upon completion of the term of
office that person will have been a member of the
General Assembly for more than eight years.
Time served in the General Assembly before the
session beginning in January 2015 does not count
toward the eight-year service limitation.
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5. 41 senators, 123 representatives (nested 3
to 1)
2/3 vote in each chamber to override a
veto
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8. Get rid of Mike Madigan!
Stop the rise of such powerful legislative
leaders in the future
Greater turnover in the legislature
Create a “citizen legislature”
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9. Get rid of Mike Madigan!
Stop the rise of such powerful legislative
leaders in the future
Greater turnover in the legislature
Create a “citizen legislature”
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10. Weakens the legislature
Less experience and policy knowledge
Weaker organizational structure
Shifts power to legislative
staff, lobbyists, and the executive branch
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11. Weakens the legislature
Less experience and policy knowledge
Weaker organizational structure
Shifts power to legislative
staff, lobbyists, and the executive branch
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Chris Mooney
Institute of Government and Public
Affairs
1007 W. Nevada St.
Urbana, IL 61801
Phone: 217-300-9000
Email: cmoon1@uillinois.edu
