Ought there to be term limits for members of Congress? One U.S. senator thinks so.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) announced on Monday that he is reintroducing a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on members of Congress.
The amendment would limit the number of terms that an individual can serve in the House of Representatives to three two-year terms and it would limit the number of terms that an individual can serve in the Senate to two six-year terms.
“It’s long past time for congressional #TermLimits,” Cruz tweeted.
Cruz’s position
Cruz on Monday, in addition to reintroducing the bill, made the case for term limits.
“The rise of political careerism in today’s Congress is a sharp departure from what the Founders intended for our federal governing bodies,” Cruz said.
He continued: “Every year, Congress spends billions of dollars on giveaways for the well-connected: Washington insiders get taxpayer money and members of Congress get re-elected, all while the system fails the American people. It’s no wonder that the vast majority of Americans from every political stripe – Republicans, Democrats, and Independents – overwhelmingly support congressional term limits.”
Cruz concluded that term limits are a “solution for the brokenness of Washington, D.C.”
A potential flaw
The idea of term limits, as Cruz noted, does seem to be gaining popularity, with many Americans becoming fed up with career politicians.
Some worry, however, that term limits, instead of solving the problem, would only lead to a situation in which there is an incentive for members of Congress to position themselves for post-Congress lobbying positions. Cruz, himself, agrees and thus would like to see a lobbying ban for ex-members of Congress in addition to term limits.
Will it be passed?
Probably not. Constitutional amendments are difficult to pass in and of themselves. But, the problem here is that it would require the support of some of the very people that Cruz is trying to do away with: career politicians.
Cruz, as has been stated, is reintroducing this constitutional amendment. He has already tried to get it passed on several occasions, including in 2017 and 2019, but to no avail. This time, Cruz was joined by Sen. Mike Braum (R-IN), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Todd Young (R-IN), and Rick Scott (R-FL).
33 Responses
it is WAY past time to get rid of the career politicians! Truman once said: Show me a rich politician and I will show you a crook!
YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN, RONALD!!!!!!!!
AMEN to this one!!
Ted Cruz not 3 terms
Put it down to only 2 terms only
We would all like too see everyone that has been in there forever. Need to be put out now been in too long
Always stipulate that If they do anything wrong the can be put out of office then and there
Two terms in the Senate would be 12 years. Two terms in the House would be only 4 years (two years each term in the House, whereas the Senate terms are for 6 years each). More even would be two Senate terms, six House terms or a combination of three House terms and one Senate term, all to equal but not exceed 12 years maximum. No more career politicians, as the Founders envisioned.
Yeah, buddy!!!
Did he have Biden in mind when he said that???
Biden, Pelosi, Schumer, Schiff, McConnell, Feinstein and I”m sure you can add more. Too much corruption, arrogance, need to control and them thinking we work for them.
Term Limits are way over due. Also the need for Republicans to be as good at lying, cheating, thieving, and as crooked as the Democrats is a must. The Republicans need to be as tough as the Democrats to stop the theft of any position in Congress. And to NOT care about America and the people as the Democrats act now. !!!!!!’n
It is a must do if the government is ever going to be “by the people and for the people”.
I REALLY THINK IT IS TIME FOR THIS TO HAPPEN—-WAY PAST TIME IN FACT—–THEY SHOULD BE LIKE THE STATES IN AMERICA AND GET A NEW SET OF PEOPLE IN OFFICE—-TOO MANY OF THE D.C. POLITICO’S HAVE TOO MUCH GRAFT GIVEN THEM FY PEOPLE WHO WANT FAVORS—-LETS GET RID OF THIS BUNCH. DALE MAHLUM [email protected]
Term limits for members of Congress should be done. This was the original intent of the founding fathers. As it is hard to do through laws concerning amendments it should be done through the vote of the people and on a ballot to do such and sent to Scotus. A career politician in congress is a detriment to the country and constitution. It is fact that career politicians lose contact with those they represent. Proof of this is shown now by this chaotic Congress as this is also shown in history of other great societies which caused their demise.
We need more patriots like Sen. Cruz. I am with him 100%. I am very worried what is happening to this once great country of ours.
I support term limits for both House of Representatives and senators. I also support legislation of those who have served be refrained from accepting any financial renumerations post serving for personal gain from special interest groups.
Yea!! This is one way to get rid of these corrupt people!!!
Thanks, Ted Cruz Make it happen!
I like the idea of term limits for everyone. I think that is only fair and our founding fathers did intend that they’d go back home to their farms or offices and work there afterwards. If VA members read this, pleases vote for this, some of you guys have been there forever. And from what I’ve seen lately, not doing a whole lot except back up Pelosi instead of trying to put her in her place or removing her.
You can’t tell me people like Pelosi, Schumer, Schiff, Waters are legally getting reelected over and over and over again when their districts are full of drug addicts and homeless well they’re living in multi million dollar homes outside of their district. Especially when they have done zero for the people and yet expect people to actually believe that they win every electio ALWAYS at 75%? Just like Deblasio constantly being reelected as mayor of New York when everybody wants him gone! Or how AOC got elected when nobody in the district ever heard of her! None of it add up!
Way to go Senator Cruz!!!
Way to go. Senator Cruz!!!
Term limits would sure put a halt to a career politician and if it would also prevent him or her to try for lobbying to put a nix in that also would be wonderful if each state would just place it on the ballot so we American citizens have a chance to vote on it. It would stop some of this dirty stuff going on for many past years….Years ago it was just like that the people elected served a short time and then returned to live under the laws they help make…Thank you Mr. Cruz, I pray it happens!!
Amen to all above posts! Term limits are a must! Get the “ old dead wood” out of office!
Way to go Ted Cruz. This is called “doing your job” in case anyone wonders. It’s high time we had term limits for everyone seeking or in office. I would make it two terms. That should be sufficient time to do whatever needs doing for the people.
As far as Democrats go, what goes around comes around…they will get what they deserve!
Thank you Ted Cruz.
Why can’t “WE THE PEOPLE” vote on this? After all, they all work for and are paid by us!
yes we the people should vote on it. but will our votes be counted, look what happened in the presidential election. that needs to be fixed. come on people we are better than this.
It is about time.
Only way to get it done is to put in to a vote by the american citizens
Exactly!!👍🏼👍🏼🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
.I RECOMMEND THAT THAT THE CONSTITUTION CHANGE FROM 2 YEARS TO 4YEARS. FOR REPRESENTATIVES ! AT 2YEARS YOU CAN NOT DO JUSTICE TO THE JOB AS YOU CAN NOT CONCENTRATE ON IT. YOU HAVE TO ALREADY WORK ON THE NEXT ELECTION..3 TERMS MAKING IT 12 YEARS!I RECCOMEND 3 TERMS MAX FOR SENATORS. 18 YEARS.ALSO’;SHOULD THERE BE AN AGE LIMIT?ALSO I THINK THERE THERE SHOULD BE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONDITION THAT SUPREME COURT JUSTICES BE RETIRED AT AGE 75 YEARS.CHANGE IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL &POCKET BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They don’t want to lose a job that lets them steal, cheat, and give themselves raises. Why would they care about minimum wage when they can control their own wages. I would say 2 terms for the house and 1 term for the senate. Do away with lobbyist. And they pay for their own campaign and only spend a set amount.
It would be nice if the taxpayers got to vote on the term limits but we all know how corrupt our elections are, nothing would change. America is a disgrace with these polls guess with China in charge they will be removed.
gotta keep trying….it will succeed if we keep at it.