The politics of legislative term limits: A comparative analysis in Latin America and Southeast Asia

Abstract

This article comparatively analyses democratic countries that have adopted legislative term limits. Its central argument is that these reforms constitute a form of symbolic politics. Proponents advance them either to demonstrate a commitment to governmental alternation (symbolic constitutionalism) or to address public calls for political renewal (populist constitutionalism). The article theorizes that such reforms are more prevalent in contexts characterized by corruption or legislative distrust, or in democratic transitions that followed disputes over incumbent term lengths. Through comparative process tracing in Costa Rica, the Philippines, Bolivia, Peru and Chile, this study provides empirical evidence. Finally, it demonstrates how the breadth of the decision-making coalition influences the proponents’ objectives.