A renewed push for congressional term limits is gaining traction across the U.S., and Indiana could soon join the effort. State Sen. Andy Zay (R-District 17) is advocating for Indiana to support a constitutional amendment that would limit how long lawmakers can serve in Congress.

Two Paths to Change the Constitution

Amending the U.S. Constitution is no simple task. There are two ways to do it, but only one seems feasible in this case.

According to legal experts, the first option requires Congress to propose an amendment that states would then ratify. This is unlikely, as it would require lawmakers to impose limits on themselves.

The second option is gaining momentum. It calls for at least 34 state legislatures to support a Constitutional Convention, bypassing Congress entirely.

One short sentence for natural flow.

“This would be the first Constitutional Convention we’ve had since 1787 when the Constitution was written,” said Gerard Magliocca, a professor at Indiana University McKinney School of Law.

Indiana’s Role in the Effort

Zay is advocating for Indiana to be one of the states pushing for a convention. He acknowledges the process is in its early stages but believes it’s an important discussion to have.

• Around 10 to 12 states have already signed on to the initiative.
• More states are actively considering the proposal.
• A total of 34 states are needed to trigger a convention.

“You can get 12 states to sign on to a lot of things,” Magliocca said. “Getting 30, which would get you close to the two-thirds you need, that’s a lot harder.”

The Debate Over Term Limits

Not everyone is on board with the idea. Critics argue that long-serving legislators provide stability and institutional knowledge that benefits the country.

Zay disagrees. “Forty and fifty years of service gets a little beyond stability,” he said.

Some see term limits as a way to prevent career politicians from accumulating too much power, while others believe the solution lies in electoral choices rather than restrictions on service.

What’s Next?

While Zay recognizes the challenge, he believes it’s worth pursuing. He says the Founding Fathers originally intended for citizen legislators rather than career politicians.

“I don’t think democracy is going anywhere, but I think we need to get back to the original design and intent of our Founding Fathers,” Zay said.

For now, the proposal remains in its infancy, but as more states take up the discussion, the possibility of a Constitutional Convention becomes more real.