One Size Does Not Fit All
Our chapter elaborates the distribution of term limit provisions across time and space. We draw on the Comparative Constitutions Project, which records data from written constitutions for independent states since 1789. We show that term limits have become more common in presidential systems, and that there are regional variations to the patterns. We also examine internal variations in the design of executive term limits. There is relatively little variation across written constitutions in length of executive term, even though the time required to develop, implement, and evaluate policies would probably depend on a number of variables that differ across time and space. We also note the role of both courts and constitutional amendments in modifying the provisions.