However, one cannot gain that experience unless they are able to work in a real-world setting where there are consequences. This makes sense as unlike with other professions, lawmaking is a career where experience can only truly be gained by performing the task in a setting where there are consequences. One argument made in opposition to the proposal of Congressional term limits is that lawmaking requires prior experience due to its complex nature and that it would be unwise to leave Americans in the hands of inexperienced lawmakers (Burgat). The call to limit how long a politician can hold Congressional office reflects the sentiment that term-limits are one of the core restrictions that allow democracy to function.ĭespite popular opinion, other Americans are less eager to place these restrictions on Congress. ![]() As George Washington had only run for two terms and had refused to run a third upon request, he had set the precedent that his successors followed up until FDR’s presidency. This reference to the Founding Fathers’ intentions feels similar to the argument made for setting term limits for the U.S. Term Limits, a group advocating for the institution of term-limits in all levels of government, says on the ‘About’ page of their website that setting term-limits allows for the “citizen legislator” to reduce external influence in Congress and introduce new ideas, just as the Founding Fathers had intended (“About”). Many Americans believe that a lack of term-limits is undemocratic. This argument is rooted in the same ideals that influenced the addition of the 22nd Amendment. A 2018 Brookings article states that 74% of likely voters believe that there should be Congressional term-limits (Burgat). ![]() That being said, many Americans believe that Congress members should be limited in how many terms they can run. More so, the fact that the presidential term-limit is set by an amendment to the Constitution indicates that setting limits on how long elected officials can stay in office is itself a principle of American democracy. The modern reaction to even the notion of changing the presidential term limit demonstrates how much term-limits are valued in American democracy. Former President Donald Trump’s statements that he would “negotiate” his way to a third term in 2024 if he were to win in the 2020 election shocked the country, including Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen, who urged others to take these statements seriously (Solender). Even though contesting and amending the Constitution has become a key aspect of American democracy, the support of a two-term limit remains strong to this day. This Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1951, in response to former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s unprecedented three-term presidency (N.C.C. The most famous limit placed on an American elected federal official is probably the two-term limit placed upon the president, which is enforced by the 22nd Amendment. ![]() In this piece, I will briefly look at the history of the American federal term-limit as well as analyze the stances of those who are for Congressional term-limits and those who oppose it. In a 2013 Gallup poll, most Democrats, Republicans, and Independents in the poll’s sample size said that they would vote in favor of Congressional term-limits if given the opportunity (Saad).ĭespite political affiliation, a majority of Americans polled stated they would vote for the institution of term-limits (Saad). ![]() Opinions among Americans on whether or not term-limits should be imposed on Congress are seemingly cut and dry. However, members of Congress are not constrained to term limits and are able to serve for as many terms as they would like, given that they are reelected. Members of Congress also serve in terms, with terms in the House of Representatives lasting two years and terms in the Senate lasting six years. It is common knowledge that each elected American president has a two-term limit, with each term consisting of four years in office.
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