Oregon Term Limits Struck Down

Oregon Term Limits Struck Down

On July 20, a Marion County judge ruled that Oregon's term limits law was unconstitutional. The case will be reviewed by the state Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court agrees with the lower court judge and strikes down the term limits law before the March 12, 2002 candidate filing deadline, 26 Oregon legislators who are presently barred from seeking re-election will once again be eligible to run.

The term limits law was ruled unconstitutional on the grounds that it violates Oregon's "single subject rule" for initiatives. Oregon is one of several states with such a rule, which stipulates that an initiative may address only one subject. It has become more and more common in recent years for initiatives to be overturned by the courts on the single subject rule. However, this is the first time that a term limits initiative has been overturned for violating the single subject rule.

U.S. Term Limits, a national group that favors limiting legislators' terms, has vowed that it will push for a new initiative limiting terms if the current term limits law ultimately fails to hold up in the courts.

For More Information on Term Limits

Jennie Drage Bowser tracks term limits, and may be reached at 303-364-7700 or elections-info@ncsl.org.