PLANNING LEGISLATIVE CAREERS UNDER TERM LIMITS

This research note examines the hypothesis that the impact of state legislative term limits on legislators' career planning varies by political context. A comparison of the career planning of legislative candidates from Michigan, a state with relatively restrictive term limits and a high degree of legislative professionalism, with candidates from Oklahoma, a state with less restrictive term limits and somewhat less professionalism, support this view. In addition, the data reveal substantial differences between supporters and opponents of term limits with respect to institutional loyalty and zdesiredcareer patterns.