Should the number of terms served by members of Congress be limited?

Question

Should the number of terms served by Congress be limited, as they are for the president? If not, what justification exists for imposing a term requirement on the president but not on Congress? Wouldn't corruption be less likely if members of Congress were regularly rotated in office?

Answer 1

TERM LIMITS ARE A MUST!

LINE ITEM VETO NO, gives the president to much power.  If you think about it he can use it for good as well as bad.

Answer 2

I believe there is good reason to limit the number of terms.

1) Power corrupts. Even if a Representative is exceptional, he is forced to make decisions that will benefit some while placing limitations on the ability of others to do well. That is a fact of life. Then the Representative is chastised for the "harm" done to those few. The result is a corrupting influence. It is impossible to use power in a manner that will avoid such consequences.

2) The Representative ends up living in a "special" environment that creates its own "reality" and eventually the Representative becomes detached from the realities that confront those he is representing.

Again, that makes it impossible to do his job well.

Those who have lived their lives in "Ivory Towers" should not be elected as representatives of the members of society as a whole. Search for those who's success is due to their own creativity and industriousness.

  

Answer 3

Absolutely.

For a career politician, the foremost thing on his or her mind must be re-election, not doing their job.  The desire to continue "serving" as a member of Congress fuels the need for campaign financing.  The need for money allows for lobbyists to hook their claws into these politicians.  Next thing you know, this symbiotic (or parasitic) relationship leads to politicians supporting their funders instead of their constituents.

There will always be corruption in politics.  Those who seek power are susceptible to it's influences.  But term limits would severely limit the ability of lobbyists (and others of influence) to land the big fish who will stay on the hook for 40 years.

The President is limited to 2 terms because we feared the power one person could wield for an extended amount of time.  Yet some members of Congress exert a much greater influence on public policy than any President ever could (with the exception of military actions).

Answer 4

I think the terms should be limited.  People get too hung up on a name and who they're "comfortable" with so they just vote for the same person over and over again.  We end up having ancient members of Congress.  Strom Thurman is a perfect example.  People who have been in the Congress since it started (lol) have very old views.  It's harder, I think, for them to be able to make decisions for today versus 20 or 30 years ago.

Answer 5

YES!!!!  THen maybe some progress would be made!!!  These congress people who have been there for like 20 yrs are blocking progress and change......there does need to be a limit, just like there is a limit on 2 consecutive terms for the president...

The thing is---I don't think the members of congress would EVER pass this!  They are too greedy!  

Answer 6

We already have term limits... it's called an "election".

It is OUR fault that a corrupt politician is serving since we are the voters.

Answer 7

Absolutely!  It's past time that we did away with "professional" politicians!

Answer 8

Yes , by all means . They get to cozy with lobbyist and feel comfortable about taking money for favors . We don't have a Government for the People anymore . It's a Corporate Government , bought and paid for by Large Corporations .

But how do you get Congress to vote themselves term limits .

Answer 9

I agree with term limits, than maybe instead of not doing something for fear of not getting reelected members of Congress will do the right thing, on both sides of the aisle, I believe much more can be accomplished if we had term limits.

When the sun rises in the east, its going to be a good day

Answer 10

yes. b/c they suck right now.

did you know (i saw this on msnbc) in 30 yrs

1 in 3 ppl in the US is gonna be hispanic.

thx congress. eff you

Answer 11

Yes, term limits along with the line item veto should be put on the national ballot.