Term Limits Case in North Dakota Builds on Active Year For Civic Engagement

(Adobe Stock via Prairie News Service)

(By Mike Moen. Prairie News Service ) – This spring, the North Dakota Supreme Court will take up a closely .watched issue: term limits for state lawmakers. A public policy group sees the debate as another avenue for residents to reengage with civic matters.

The pending case stems from a 2022 ballot initiative approved by voters, imposing legislative term limits. The Republican-led legislature later approved placing a new question on this year’s statewide ballot calling for a less restrictive approach in capping the years state lawmakers can serve. It led to a lawsuit now before the state’s high court, challenging the push for new changes.

Amy Jacobson, executive director of Prairie Action ND, said her group doesn’t have a stance on term limits but the case is worth monitoring. “It is concerning when the will of the people is being usurped by the elected politicians,” Jacobson contended.

Lawmakers behind the new effort said there needs to be a smoother transition for term limits. Jacobson acknowledged it is reasonable to think voters feel shut out or turned off by today’s political environment but added as people struggle with things like higher consumer prices, they might be more open to staying on top of developments like the case.