Term Limits and Polarization: The Relationship within State Legislatures

• In Event: Poster Session: New Perspectives in Political Science Research: Scholarship by Vanderbilt REU Students

Abstract

Polarization within our state legislatures has been on the rise since the 1970s, with academic interest growing alongside it. Research on the topic has explored explanations both internal and external to these legislatures. This study focuses specifically on one of these internal explanations. How do legislative term limits affect polarization within state legislatures? I argue that term limits increase rates of polarization due to the way they alter the roles of parties within the legislatures. Using the Correlates of State Policy dataset I examine the relationship between polarization in states’ legislatures from 1993 to 2016 and whether they have term limits. This study helps us to better understand one of the possible causes of polarization within our state legislatures and highlights the potential consequences of term limits.

Author

• Molly Spruill, Appalachian State University