The Political and Institutional Effects of Term Limits

Discontent with politics and politicians has lead to calls for term-limiting elected legislators to a specified period of service - in the belief that new faces would bring new perspectives and the influence of monied special interests would decrease. This innovative volume examines the effects of term limits by combining statistical analysis of the effects of term limits on electoral competition, campaign contributions, and the activities of the Michigan legislature with in-depth interviews with legislators. The book thus sheds important light on the political, institutional and individual effects of term limits. The authors find many surprises that neither advocate nor oppose anticipated, included shifts in the balance of power, changes within and between political parties, and new career paths for politicians.