Term Limits and Their Consequences: The Aftermath of Legislative Reform

Comprehensive examination of legislative term limits and how they have changed the American political system.

Table of Contents:
List of Tables 1. Introduction Why Study Term Limits? How Term Limits Have Been Studied The Early Debate Early Scholarship Methodological Weaknesses of Early Pre-Implementation Studies Methods Used in Later Studies This Book 2. Movement to Establish Term Limits Difference between Mass Political Movements and Grassroots Democracy Movements Essential Elements of Grassroots Democracy Movements The Success of the Movement Historical Stages of the Term Limit Movement Conclusion 3. Why Were Term Limits So Popular The American Tradition of Political Reform Normative Perspectives of Support for Term Limits Research on Why Voters Prefer Term Limits and Still Vote for Their Incumbent Motivational Categories of Why Voters Prefer Term Limits The optimistic Politics of Changing Rules 4. Impact of the Election of Women Predicted Impact on the Election of Women to State Legislatures Current Evidence form the States The Potential Anticipatory Influence of Term Limits Additional Evidence: Comparing Congress with State Legislatures Case Study: California, the First State to Feel the Impact of Term Limits Implications of the California Experience: Why Didn't Term Limits Matter Other Factors Influence the Election of Women More Than Term Limits Conclusion 5. Impact of the Election of the Minority Candidates Research on Minorities and Term Limits National Trends in the Election of Black and Hispanic Candidates to States Legislatures Evidence from the California State Assembly, Michigan State house, Georgia House of Representatives, and Pennsylvania State House Summarizing the Case Study States: Term Limits, Redistricting, and State Demographics 6. Consequences of Term Limit Enactment on Career Paths Ambition Theory Impact of Term Limits on Motivation Career Paths for California's Term Limited Legislators: Other Impacts on Legislative Careers Contrasting Career Paths Michigan v. California Discussion Conclusion 7. Changes in Legislative Leadership Consequences of Eliminating Entrenched Legislative Leaders Pre-Term Limit California Speaker Pattern Post-Term Limit Speakership Transition Pattern California Senate Pattern Unseating the Leader Even Without Term Limits Georgia Minorities in Leadership Positions Women Obtaining Leadership Positions Unanticipated Consequences Weakened Leadership in Other Term-Limited States Conclusions 8. Insider's Views of Term Limits Why Interviews are Important Views of Experience of a Former State Legislator The Different Experience of a Post-Term Limits Legislator Views of Two Legislative Staffers Views of a Former Insider What These Interviews Suggest 9. The Future of Term Limits in the States and on Congress Term Limits and Future Turnover rates Term Limits in the States Expansion, Contraction, or the Status Quo? Future Consequences Term Limits and Congress Conclusion 10. Conclusion The Future of Term Limits Final Thoughts

About the Author :
Stanley M. Caress is Professor of Political Science at the University of West Georgia and the author of Dynamics of American Politics. Todd T. Kunioka is a statistical analyst for Los Angeles County and teaches Political Science at Cerritos College in California.

Review :
"After moving through its clear prose and straightforward tables, the reader will emerge with firm sense of the impact of term limits on who serves in statehouses, how their careers unfold, and patterns in the tenure of leaders ... Caress and Kunioka's work will become a standard reference on these weighty matters." - American Review of Politics "Caress and Kunioka have written a very timely and comprehensive study regarding the impact that term limits have had on state legislatures ... The authors have provided an excellent contribution by covering every angle thoroughly ... in a way that is easily understood ... Highly recommended." - CHOICE "While prior studies were based on limited or no data, this book examines states with lengthy term limits experience. More of this type of work is needed to capture the consequences of term limits." - Rick Farmer, Assistant Commissioner, Oklahoma Insurance Department