New York City Term Limits Legislation

Posted by Brooklyn Young Republican Club

Sections 1137-1138 of the New York City Charter currently calls for two, four-year term limits on all City elected officials.   Currently, three pieces of legislation have been introduced in the New York City Council to handle term limits:

  • Int. 845 – Introduced by CM Felder (by request of the Mayor) – To increase term limits by local law from two terms to three terms without a public referendum
  • Int. 850 – Introduced by CMs Weprin, de Blasio, Gioia and Liu – To provide that any changes to term limits for elected officers must be submitted for the approval of the electors
  • Res. 1640 – Introduced by CM Avella – Resolution calling upon the State legislature to adopt legislation amending the State Municipal Home Rule Law (MHRL) to give the City the authority to provide in its Charter that any change in the City’s term limits law must be subject to voter referendum

Testimony will be gathered for this legislation in the October 16th & 17th meetings of the City Council’s Governmental Operations Committee.

As part of the Republican Party’s longstanding record of supporting good government and political reform in New York City and New York State, several prominent Republican legislators in Albany have already introduced legislation, going as far back as 2002, to prevent exactly this kind of power grab without the consent of the people by referendum first and to impose similar term limits on elected state executive officers.  Bipartisan support exists for these reforms. 

The follow is a list of some legislation, though it is by no means comprehensive:

  • A.4830 – Sponsored by Republican Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco – To provide that term limits on elected officials of any political subdivision can only be repealed by the adoption of a resolution to do so by the proper legislative body and that would have to be approved by the majority of qualified voters.
  • S.4736 – Sponsored by State Senator Griffo, and Co-Sponsored by State Senators Bruno, Alesi, Bonacic, DeFrancisco, Farley, Flanagan, Fuschillo, Golden, Hannon, Johnson O, Lanza, Larkin, Lavalle, Leibell, Libous, Little, Maltese, Marcellino, Maziarz, Morahan, Nozzolio, Padavan, Rath, Robach, Seward, Skelos, Trunzo, Volker, Winner, Wright, Young (bold indicates NYC Republican State Senators) – Establishes term limits for the offices of governor, attorney-general and comptroller to a maximum of two terms; limits the amount of time any person can act as governor.

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