Term Limits

The Twenty-second Amendment (Amendment XXII) of the United States Constitution sets term limits for election and overall time of service to the office of a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga');

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href=”https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States”>President of the United States. Congress passed the amendment on March 21, 1947. Ratification by the requisite 36 of the then-48 states was completed on February 27, 1951.

Advantages of term limits 

The Founding Fathers believed term limits unnecessary because they thought politicians, would maintain some semblance of honor. They also thought that the electorate would remain an informed one. Were they wrong on that one! We must be willing to eliminate politicians who show a lack of the honor necessary to represent the people.

The Pros of Congressional Term Limits

Term limits will help to root out corruption. Those exposed to power over longer periods of time are more likely to make decisions based on their self-interest. Those who choose to serve as members of the government should do so for unselfish reasons. Not to make money or to ensure that they remain employed indefinitely. Term limits would keep those who desire only power and money out of Congress. Term limits would allow new ideas to flourish and help the government work better.

The Cons of Congressional Term Limits 

First of all, when someone spends a long time at a job, they usually become more skilled. Limiting terms for Congress will also restrict the chances of someone growing into their position and becoming even better at it.

If a member of Congress should become a trusted voice, their career might be cut short even if they have no history of corruption.

Removing those who have served for too long ensures that there will be a new class of rookie Congressmen every so many years. Maybe this isn’t such a good idea. If a government consistently has to break in new members and teach them the ropes, it reduces the amount of time for real work.

5 Longest Serving Lawmakers

John Conyers congressional record: From Jan 1965 to Jan 2017, Conyers missed 4,890 of 28,535 roll call votes, which is 17.1%. His record is worse than the median of 2.1% among the lifetime records of representatives currently serving. ProPublica tracked 187 explanations for these missed votes. Read our 2016 Report Card for https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/john_conyers/400080

Thad Cochran (H, S) Republican 44 years, 18 days

Legislation Sponsored: The Natchez Trace Parkway Land Conveyance Act of 2013 (S. 304; 113th Congress) (S. 304,  Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2014 (S. 2363; 113th Congress)

Cochran served as Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference from 1985 to 1991 and as Chairman from 1991 to 1996. He is its only former Chairman currently in the Senate. He Chaired the Senate Agriculture Committee from 2003 to 2005. In 2005, he was appointed as Chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee

Don Young (H) Republican 43 years, 321 days: Donald Edwin “Don” Young (born June 9, 1933) is an American politician and member of the Republican Party who has served as the U.S. Representative for Alaska’s at-large congressional district since March 1973. He is the longest-serving member ever of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Alaska and the second-longest currently serving House member, behind only John Conyers of Michigan.

Patrick Leahy (S) Democrat 42 years, 18 days

Chuck Grassley (H, S) Republican 42 years, 18 days

 

Senate rejects term limits in 24-75 vote

In 2012 the Senate rejected an amendment supporting term limits on members of Congress.  The Senate rejected the amendment in a 24-75 vote.

Legislatures have lots of power.  Unfortunately, we’ve seen that that power over time offers more opportunity and temptation for them to benefit themselves rather than their constituents.

Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) argued that leaving it up to voters, not lawmakers, to decide how long each member serves is a much better idea. That would be fine if incumbents didn’t have the upper hand when campaigning. They have money, political apparatus, and name recognition.

48 Lawmakers Favoring Term Limits For Congress

According to U.S. Term Limits, these senators and House members signed the term limits pledge.: http://www.wnd.com/2016/12/48-lawmakers-join-trump-in-backing-term-limits-for-congress/

What’s Required To Implement Term Limits?

Changing the Constitution is one of the hardest things to do in politics. It requires an agreement by a two-thirds supermajority of Congress and then to be ratified by three-fourths of states, or 38 out of 50.

This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.

 

Legislative Retirement

A Congressional pension is a pension made available to members of the United States Congress. Members who participated in the congressional pension system are vested after five (5) years of service. A full pension is available to members 62 years of age with five years of service; 50 years or older with 20 years of service; or 25 years of service at any age. A reduced pension is available depending on which of several different age/service options is chosen. If Members leave Congress before reaching retirement age, they may leave their contributions behind and receive a deferred pension later

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