Common Term Lengths

The most common term length for chief elected officials (CEOs) is four years. However, the use of a four-year term varies based on the region of the city within the United States.  In 89% of East South-Central cities, the four-year term length is applied to the CEO, while in New England, only 2% of cities impose a four-year term length for CEOs.  Often the governance structure of a city correlates to the practice of term lengths given that only 1% of communities governed by a town meeting use a four-year term length whereas 57% of central cities employ a four-year term limit for CEOs.  A two-year term is the second most frequent length of term, utilized by slightly more than 33% of cities polled. 

Term Limits

A term limit is a clause placed in a constitution, statute or bylaw which limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office.  For example, the 22nd Amendment of the United States Constitution states that no person can be elected to the office of President more than twice.  Fort Collins, Colorado, demonstrates term limits in action on the city level.  Council members are elected to a four-year term, with a limit of two total terms.  As for the Mayor of Fort Collins, he or she can be elected for a two-year term, limited to three total terms in office.

Pros and Cons of Term Limits

Those who favor term limits feel they can reduce any potential abuses of power by incumbents who stay in office too long.  Some believe term limits also encourage political participation by newcomers.  Proponents of term limits see them as a tool to make government more responsive to public needs through a continuous process of renewal. 

On the other hand, opponents to term limits maintain that elections already serve as a structural limitation.  Some view term limits as an infringement on the public right to select a candidate they believe should remain in office, regardless of years served.  Critics of term limits feel the practice is unconstitutional and undemocratic and note that a seasoned official can bring valuable experience to their office.

In recent years, the trend toward term limits in state and federal offices has not taken hold in municipal-level government.  Of surveyed cities, just 9% chose to restrict the term of their chief elected official.  Larger cities are more likely to limit the terms of their elected officials than smaller cities.  Term limits have been employed most often in the Mountain division (30%) of the country. Of cities which apply term limits the most often, fifty-five percent restrict the Chief Elected Officials [CEO] to two terms.

Source: 
MacManus, Susan A. and Charles S. Bullock, III. "The Form, Structure, and Composition of America's Municipalities in the New Millenium." In Municipal Year Book 2003. Washington, DC: International City/County Management Association 2003, p. 3-18.