Premium Essay

Congressional Term Limits In The United States

Submitted By
Words 944
Pages 4
Congressional Term Limits
The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land (U.S. land). Empowered with the sovereign authority of the people by the framers and the consent of the legislatures of the states, it is the source of all government powers, and also provides important limitations on the government that protect the fundamental rights of United States citizens. Professor Larry J. Sabato introduced a number of proposals for Constitutional revisions in his book, A More Perfect Constitution: Why the Constitution Must Be Revised: Ideas to Inspire a New Generation, all of which worthy of consideration, but one stands out to me as the most deserving candidate to become a new Amendment to the Constitution…Congressional Term Limits. …show more content…
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms an officeholder may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for life". This is intended to protect a democracy from becoming a de facto dictatorship. Sometimes, there is an absolute limit on the number of terms an officeholder can serve, while, in other cases, the restrictions are merely on the number of consecutive terms. The United States placed a limit of two terms on its presidency by means of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution in 1951. There are no term limits for Vice Presidency, Representatives, Senators and Supreme Court …show more content…
This 115th Congress is no exception. Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI) initiated such an amendment legislation in 2017, but there has been no action on his bill to limit House terms to six years and Senate terms to 12 years. He has opined that Congress has a 96% re-election rate, but has a “lower approval rating than cockroaches, colonoscopies and Genghis Khan.”
A National Taxpayer Union study documented that the longer people serve in Congress, the bigger spenders and regulators they become. The bottom line, according to a CATO Institute study, is that “Americans believe that career legislators and professional politicians have created a gaping chasm between themselves and their government.” A Gallup poll from five years ago cited that 75% of Americans would vote for any term-limit law, and 11% cited this issue as their “first choice” to fix

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Why Americans Should Serve In Politics Research Paper

...When we are electing the people to serve us we should know their skill set and their history of politics. They should be skilled enough to serve and learn fast. They also should have many connections from their past experience in politics. It's not going to be the easiest job ever, but one of the most rewarding because they are serving the people that support them. I believe if there is congressional term limits we will be placing new leaders that are inspired to serve in office that will do best for our country. Congressional term limits will improve our country’s government by placing the passionate and inspired leaders to serve. This will reduce the chance of corruption and greediness in our government. This will give us citizens a chance to have our voice hear and an opportunity for our country to move forward for the future. Congressional term limits in the United State’s congress will be more of a benefit than a harm it will decrease the amount of corruption by career...

Words: 774 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Should Congress Have Term Limits Essay

...ENG 105 23 April 2024 Why We Need Term Limits in Congress? Recently the debate regarding further term limits for elected officials has exploded, there are many arguments on whether term limits are necessary and what they would look like. This debate is still ongoing today and is hotly contested. Many states have enacted term limits on statewide positions and have seen remarkable results from these laws. Term limits are essential for us to put confidence back into our political system, term limits would help increase the number of citizens that can get involved in politics as incumbents would be vastly reduced. Another way term limits can help fix the problems in our government is by ending the possibility of lifetime tenure our elected officials have today, which in turn would help curb the corruption our...

Words: 1662 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Pol201 - Week 5

...national government. The key structures, frameworks, parts, and procedures that encapsulate our national government are extremely point by point and need exceptionally pivotal consideration while deciding the upsides and downsides of the administration. It is anything but difficult to take a gander at another nation and think about the legislatures together, as I would see it as taking a gander at America's administration contrasted with that of different nations, our own is in fact the most grounded paying little mind to the negatives that it has. There are many important written documents that we as American language look onto. Probably, one of the most important document that our country does utilize on a daily footing is the United Commonwealth United States Constitution. When the institution fathers created this document, the three watchword probably are “We the Hoi polloi,” this show that the US Constitution is deeply important and that the people are the ones that are protected with this. This is figure on the idea of: lifespan, shore leave and freedom. I believe that the US Constitution has been extremely important because it has lasted for so long. The only intellect that it could have lasted is because of the way that it was written. Very intricate and many ways of looking at a scenario. We are still going back to the constitution now and looking at the way our instauration fathers could have interpreted the entropy. Each case is decided by using it. At the point when the...

Words: 1899 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Essay On Congressional Term Limits

...Congressional Term limits is a pending topic which has received a lot of attention from the media: it has garnered public and political support from many individuals; Democrats, Republicans, and third parties. Limiting the term of U.S House and Senate representatives is a tedious constitutional battle involving a lot of loopholes. Creating term limits for U.S House Representative and Senates sounds easy, with Congress support, but the problem is how to gather and maintain Congress support despite the incongruous nature of Congress. U.S House of Representatives currently serve 2-year terms and Senators, 6 years changing this would require the approval of the majority of Congressmen: this is very elusive. Instituting a congressional term limit on the House and Senate requires 2/3 votes from both parties (the House and the Senate) but gaining such support has been difficult due to bipartisanship and Congress’s refusal to adhere to public demands. Congress’s refusal to constitutionalize term limits raises the issue of how to bypass Congress and create an Amendment that would limit U.S House of Representatives and Senate terms which would give other individuals the opportunity to be involved in Congress. Congress decreasing the term a U.S Senator serves as a way to...

Words: 573 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Representative Democracy In The United States

...The United States was founded upon the principles of ending tyranny and creating an efficient system that represented its people with a separation of powers within the government, and an election process by which the people could hold a voice. The founding fathers wanted to prevent a resurgence of tyranny and create a system that didn’t provide a few people with supreme power. However, there are still Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle like John Conyers (D), serving from 1965, and Don Young (R), serving since 1973, who have remained in the legislative system for over forty years (King). Does this not challenge the notion of restricting political power of an individual? Serving in Congress is supposed to be for public service and...

Words: 767 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Congressional Elections

...government have their shortcomings. In order to overcome flaws, the three branches of government are charged with using their power and resources to find resolutions. According to Thomas Patterson in We the People, of the three branches, Congress possesses “the greatest of all the powers of government, the power to make the laws” (328). The significant role of Legislators necessitates the need for immediate reform before the other branches due to their unique power. Currently, Congress is “the only form of elected office in American government not regulated by term...

Words: 1042 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Congress Budget Process

...the Congress a proposed budget for running the business of the Federal government annually (United States, 2017). This helps the president in doing his projects e.g. medical care and other responsibilities in the financial year. The General Accounting Office (agency in government accountability) is responsible for the budget allocation after approval by the Congress. The General Accounting Office is also responsible for provision...

Words: 981 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Assignment #1

...white papers to restore the constitution white papers Restore. Protect. Expand. Amend the War Powers Resolution Center for Constitutional Rights The Center for Constitutional Rights is dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Founded in 1966 by attorneys who represented civil rights movements in the South, CCR is a non-profit legal and educational organization committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change. CCR uses litigation proactively to empower poor communities and communities of color; to guarantee the rights of those with the fewest protections and least access to legal resources; and to train the next generation of civil and human rights attorneys. Formed in order to work hand in hand with people’s movements, CCR has lent its expertise and support to a wide range of movements for social justice. We strive to complete the unfinished civil rights movement through targeting racial profiling and other modern-day manifestations of racial and economic oppression and through combating discrimination that is based on gender or sexuality and struggling against government abuse of power. For decades, CCR has pushed U.S. courts to recognize international human rights and humanitarian protections – and we have had groundbreaking victories that established the principle of universal jurisdiction in this country and extended human rights standards...

Words: 3910 - Pages: 16

Free Essay

Rural Internet

...smartphones, computers, and tablets. Using broadband connections giving us the fastest speeds as we explore the information highway and staying connected to the world around us. “In 2004 there was an estimated 75% of Americans with computers and internet access in their homes, these numbers continue to rise with each year. While this is a high number, and growing daily (especially among multiple-computer households) there are still a significant number of people without computers or Internet access, and they are getting left behind in school and in the workplace.”(Bowles 2013) This is what has become known as the digital divide and an area that needs to be address so that we are all can be equal in a technical world. “Digital divide is a term that refers to the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communication technology (ITC), and those that don't or have restricted access.” (Rouse 2014) ”Computers and the Internet represent a wealth of knowledge for those who have access to them. As another old saying goes, "Knowledge ispower." Therefore, it stands to reason that there are ethical issues at stake when using computers to transmit knowledge. It is vital to make surethat the world is not divided into a two-class society of "information-haves" and "information-have-nots."”(Bowles 2013) “The digital divide typically exists between those in cities and those in rural areas; between the educated and the uneducated; between socioeconomic groups;...

Words: 2448 - Pages: 10

Free Essay

Business Law

...provide for punishment for counterfeiting, power to establish post offices and roads. There are only a few qualifications that one must meet to run for congress. They are: must be at least 25 years old and must have been a US citizen for at least 7 years. There is no limit on the number of terms one can serve in the house of representatives and by contract the senate members can only serve six terms. It is said that roughly 1/3 of the senate stand for reelection every two years. The duties and responsibilities do differ among the two divisions of congress. The senate has to give its approval if many of the appointment, by the president. This approval includes but is not limited to the appointment of cabinet officers, federal judges, department secretaries and US military and naval officers. Congress powers are limited to the enumerated powers on the specific right, given to it by the Constitution of the United States. Congress also has the power to impeach the president of the United States. Even though congress as a whole can impeach the president, both divisions have a different role in this process. Within congress there are congressional committee created to draft legislation and conduct congressional investigations. Each division has the power to name special/ select committee for the purpose to study specific problems....

Words: 2474 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Origins of Criminal Law

...section one of this amendment it states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” In section two it states: “Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty- one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.” In section three of the amendment it states: “No person shall be a...

Words: 1809 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Con Law Outline

...Adams fell under the Sup. Court's appellate jurisdiction and therefore could not be brought in that court originally under Art. III b/c it is repugnant to the Constitution * →Supreme Court Authority to Review State Court Judgments * ROL→ The United States appellate power also extends to REVIEW state court judgments * →Judiciary Act of 1789, § 25: Provides for supreme court review of final decisions of the highest state courts rejecting claims based on federal law * Martin v. Hunter's Lessee * →A Virginia citizen willed his Virginia land to his nephew, P, a British subject and resident of England.  Virginia, according to state law, had the right to confiscate land owned by British subjects and did so.  Virginia granted this land to D, who then ejected P from the land.  But, the treaties of 1783 and 1794 with Great Britain had anti-confiscation laws saying that the states won’t take the land of British citizens. Supreme Court exerted its authority to review the Virginia court's judgment and held that Supremacy Clause declares that the Federal interpretation will trump the States interpretation) * Cohens v. Virginia * →SC upheld its jurisdiction to review the validity of state laws in criminal proceedings) * →Judicial Excusivity * ROL→ It is exclusively the court's duty to interpret the constitution and say what the law is; Supremacy Clause makes the Constitution the Supreme...

Words: 12291 - Pages: 50

Free Essay

Tools in America's War Terror

...America's War on Terror America is at war with a transnational terrorist movement fueled by a radical ideology of hatred oppression, and murder (Executive Office of the President 2003). On October 12, 2000, members of the al Qaida terrorist group attacked the USS Cole (DDG 67) in the port of Aden, Yemen.  This attack demonstrated our enemies’ ability to identify areas of vulnerability within our defense apparatus and exploit them in an effective and lethal manner. As with any event, the attack on the USS Cole resulted in an investigation which reviewed the events leading up to the attacks and provided mitigation strategies to prevent, or deter, such an attack from taking place again, altering the way the U.S. military thinks and operates while in-transit. The report organized the findings into national and operational levels and further separated these into the five functional areas of organization, antiterrorism/force protection, intelligence, logistics and training. The report found that a unity of effort across US Government agencies and development of host nations’ security capabilities was critical in impeding a terrorist’s ability to hit transit forces. It also recommended the allocation of additional intelligence gathering resources for the collection and analysis of data related the terrorist organizations’ capability and intent within the region as well as increasing counterintelligence assets to combat terrorism and develop counterintelligence assessments for forces...

Words: 1399 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Immigration Reform in Usa

...in the United States Introduction The lack of results from the Obama administration on the overall reform of the immigration system of the United States is due to the inability of the immigration system to regulate increasing legal admissions and growth of irregular immigration of a regional provenance. The political viability of the reform depends on the consent of the elected Republican opposition. This has contributes to organize structural blockage for reform for over fifteen years, evidencing the high degree of polarization of the immigration topic issue in American society. Given the circumstances, the likelihood of a reform in the next years is very uncertain. This paper aims to explain the lack of results from the Obama administration on the reform of the immigration system. It will analyze first, the main motivation for reform of the immigration system: it has become unable to properly regulate a rapidly growing immigration. It will then offer, a series of explanatory reasons for failure: the low priority given to the immigration issue, errors, but especially the structurally cleaving nature of the reform. Why is the reform of the immigration system a necessity? The Characteristics of the US Immigration System To understand the need for reform of the US immigration system, it is necessary to go back to first principles ensuring its operation. The United States regulates the admission of foreigners on their territory by a system of annual numerical limits. To do...

Words: 2870 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Body Armor Act Case Study

...was wearing a bulletproof vest and therefore violating the statute. (http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/01/10/scotus.appeals.rejected/index.html) While possessing the vest was legal under Washington state law, wearing the vest given his criminal record was illegal under the Body Armor Act. A California company manufactured the vest in 1996, later selling it to a distributor in Washington state where Alderman eventually purchased it. The court never questioned this information nor did it accuse Alderman of buying the vest out-of-state or transporting it over state lines....

Words: 1626 - Pages: 7