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Government Relations in a Term Limited Environment
Rich Jones
National Conference of State Legislatures
SHEEO Professional Development Conference
August 12, 2004
Overview
• Term Limits Laws
• Joint Project on Term Limits
• Effects of Term Limits
• Observations and Discussion
Term Limits Laws
• Adopted by 21 States• CA, CO and OK Adopted First in 1990• Courts Overturned in MA, OR, WA, WY• Legislatures Repealed in ID and UT• 15 States Currently Have Term Limits• Legislators First Termed Out in 1996• 322 termed out in 2002; OK takes effect 2004
Term Limits Provisions
Limit in Years Consecutive Lifetime Ban
6 Hse/8 Sen AR, CA, MI
8 Total NE
8 Hse/8 Sen AZ, CO, FL, ME, MT, OH, SD
MO
12 Total OK
12 Hse/12 Sen LA NV
Joint Project on Term Limits
• To Determine Effects of Term Limits
• NCSL, CSG and SLLF
• Legislative Scholars
• Final Reports in 2004
• Components
– State Legislators Survey
– Case Studies • Six Term Limited States / Three Non-Term Limited States
– Knowledgeable Observers Survey
Effects of Term Limits
• Vary Depending on Type of Legislature– Greater Impact on Full-time Legislatures
• Increased Turnover of State Legislators– Universal Turnover
– Increased in 1990s Due to Term Limits
• Loss of Experienced Legislators– Less Knowledge of Substantive Issues
– Less Institutional Knowledge
– More Chaotic Legislatures
• No Effect on the Type of People Elected to Legislatures
• Less Attention to Constituents
Effects of Term Limits
• Legislative Leaders
– Less Legislative Experience
– Less Power Over Process and Members
• Committees and Committee Chairs
– Less Legislative Experience
– Reduced Gate Keeping Role
– Less Deference Paid to Recommendations
• Senates Have More Experienced Members
• Governors and Executive Branch Gained Power
Effects of Term Limits
• Lobbyists– Source of Institutional Knowledge
– Educational Role with New Members
– Lost Relationships
• Legislative Staff– Source of Institutional Knowledge
– Turnover in Members Staff
– Educational Role with New Members
– Partisan Staff More Important
– Nonpartisan Staff Little to No Change
Observations and Discussion
• Harder to Get Legislators to Focus on Long Term Issues• Many Legislators Looking Down the Road• Sense of Urgency Among Legislators• Greater Need for Basic Information
– Legislative Processes– Current Operations and Past Decisions
• Deference Paid to Executive Branch Officials• New Legislators Tend to be Skeptical of Lobbyists• Partisan Staff Play Important Gate Keeping Role• New Ideas Introduced and Old Issues Return
Observations and Discussion
• Government Relations Ideas:– Start at Beginning with Issues
– Provide Summary Information - Basic Data, White Papers
– Meet New Legislators ASAP
– Focus on “Up and Comers”
– Use Contacts in Members’ Districts
– Build Relationships with Staff - Particularly Partisan Staff
– Participate in Committee Organization Meetings & New Member Orientation
– Develop Expertise Among Members of Relevant Committees
Government Relations in a Term Limited Environment
Rich Jones
National Conference of State Legislatures
SHEEO Professional Development Conference
August 12, 2004
