Petition to Amend the U.S. Constitution to Establish an Age Limit for Members of Congress

This petition calls for an amendment to the United States Constitution to establish a reasonable upper age limit for service in the House of Representatives.

Currently, Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution sets a minimum age of 25 to serve as a Representative, but it does not set any maximum age. At the time the Constitution was written, life expectancy and the demands of public office were very different from today. As a result, there is currently no constitutional mechanism to ensure that elected officials remain within an age range that reflects the physical and cognitive demands of modern governance.

This proposal would add six words to Article I, Section 2, Clause 2, establishing that a Representative must be less than sixty-nine years of age at the time of election.

The revised clause would read:

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years and less than sixty nine Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

Why This Matters

Promotes generational balance: Leadership should reflect the perspectives and experiences of a broader cross-section of the population.
Ensures readiness for demanding responsibilities: Serving in Congress requires sustained energy, engagement, and adaptability in a rapidly changing world.
Encourages leadership renewal: Regular opportunities for new candidates help keep democratic institutions responsive and dynamic.
Creates consistency: Just as there is a minimum age requirement, a maximum age helps define reasonable boundaries for service.

What This Petition Seeks
We call upon lawmakers and the American public to support a constitutional amendment establishing an upper age limit for Representatives, ensuring that our government remains effective, representative, and forward-looking.