Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: Term Limits and Assignment Limitations

Publication Date: August 2004

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

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Abstract:

The 2005 Intelligence Authorization bill (S. 2386) as reported by the Senate Intelligence Committee contains a provision repealing term limits for committee members. The 9/11 Commission Report recommended that the eight year term limit for members serving on the Intelligence Committee be abolished. The commission also recommended that the committee be smaller, seven or nine members (it currently has 17 voting members), and four of the members who serve on the Intelligence Committee should also serve on the Committees on Armed Services, Judiciary, or Foreign Relations, or the Defense Appropriations subcommittee.

This report addresses issues related to the impact on the Intelligence Committee if term limits are abolished. This report will be updated as events warrant.