U.S. Term Limits
Encyclopedia
U.S. Term Limits is a non-profit organization that lobbies for term limits for elected
officials at every level of government in the United States
. Among other activities, USTL supports ballot initiatives in numerous states. The organization was established in 1992, and is one of several led by New York libertarian
Howard Rich
. One of the founding board members of the organization was Eric O'Keefe
, author of the book Who Rules America.
In the early 1990s, USTL organized political campaigns that placed term limits on the congressional delegations of 23 states. But on May 22, 1995, those state-imposed congressional term limits, encompassing nearly half the U.S. Congress, were struck down by the Supreme Court of the United States
in the case of U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton. Today, 15 state legislatures, 36 governors and thousands of local officials, including those in nine of the country's ten largest cities, are under term limits.
Paul Jacob
, a citizen initiative
activist who served in several capacities with USTL from 1992 to 2007, was indicted on October 2, 2007 for conspiracy to defraud the state of Oklahoma
regarding the use of out-of-state paid petitioners. USTL publicly announced its support for Jacob soon after.
On December 18, 2008 the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the underlying Oklahoma law that barred out of state petition circulators, noting that it was in violation of the First Amendment
.. Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson
appealed the decision on behalf of Secretary of State Susan Savage. On January 21, 2009 the Tenth Circuit court denied the state's appeal, effectively ending the case.. The Attorney General's office dismissed the charges against Jacob and the other defendants, with Edmondson saying "The statute under which these defendants were charged has been declared unconstitutional, and the appellate process is complete...The statute is no longer enforceable." on January 22, 2009.
Elected
Elected is the latest EP by Dutch Progressive metal project Ayreon. It was released on April 25, 2008 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and on April 28 in the rest of Europe...
officials at every level of government in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Among other activities, USTL supports ballot initiatives in numerous states. The organization was established in 1992, and is one of several led by New York libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
Howard Rich
Howard Rich
Howard S. Rich, also Howie Rich is a Manhattan-based real estate developer who is notable for funding libertarian oriented political initiatives such as term limits, school choice, parental rights regarding education, limited government and property rights. He has published essays advocating these...
. One of the founding board members of the organization was Eric O'Keefe
Eric O'Keefe (political activist)
Eric O’Keefe is the chairman and CEO of the Sam Adams Alliance and co-founder and co-chairman of the Alliance for Self-Governance...
, author of the book Who Rules America.
In the early 1990s, USTL organized political campaigns that placed term limits on the congressional delegations of 23 states. But on May 22, 1995, those state-imposed congressional term limits, encompassing nearly half the U.S. Congress, were struck down by the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
in the case of U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton. Today, 15 state legislatures, 36 governors and thousands of local officials, including those in nine of the country's ten largest cities, are under term limits.
Paul Jacob
Paul Jacob
Paul Jacob is an activist, organizer, and advocate for legislative term limits, initiative & veto referendum rights, and limited government in the United States. He writes a weekly column for Townhall.com and his short radio commentary feature, "Common Sense," is syndicated by the Citizens In...
, a citizen initiative
Initiative
In political science, an initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote...
activist who served in several capacities with USTL from 1992 to 2007, was indicted on October 2, 2007 for conspiracy to defraud the state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
regarding the use of out-of-state paid petitioners. USTL publicly announced its support for Jacob soon after.
On December 18, 2008 the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the underlying Oklahoma law that barred out of state petition circulators, noting that it was in violation of the First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
.. Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson
Drew Edmondson
William Andrew "Drew" Edmondson , is an American lawyer and politician from Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, Edmondson served as the 16th Attorney General of Oklahoma from 1995 to 2011...
appealed the decision on behalf of Secretary of State Susan Savage. On January 21, 2009 the Tenth Circuit court denied the state's appeal, effectively ending the case.. The Attorney General's office dismissed the charges against Jacob and the other defendants, with Edmondson saying "The statute under which these defendants were charged has been declared unconstitutional, and the appellate process is complete...The statute is no longer enforceable." on January 22, 2009.