Term Limits For Legislators Essay examples -- essays research papers

Term Limits For LegislatorsWhen the Constitution of the fall in States was adopted in 1789, it waswithout direction regarding term limits for legislators. At the eon,professional politicians were unhearable of, and the idea of some wizard serving formore than hotshot or 2 legal injury was unlikely. So the Constitution did not formallyaddress the issuing of term limits, although it was understood that officeholderswould limit themselves to one or twain terms and then return to private life (1).With the advent of the modern state, however, came the reservation of Congress as acareer, and thus the voluntary removal of oneself from office, as envisioned bythe founders, is no longer regularly undertaken in the join States Congress.The structure of the Congress supports members who have held office for severalterms thereby undermining the idea of the citizen-legislator put forth by thefounders. Instead of citizens who will currently return to the community thatelected them, pr ofessional Congress- bulk spend more time in Washington than int heir home states, and commonly make Congress their career. What has developedin recent years, in reception to congressional careerism, is the drive to imposelimits on the length of time someone may dish in Congress. Currently,advocates of term limits are calling for two terms in the Senate, and three inthe House. It is possible, then, for a member to serve six years in the House,twelve years in the Senate, eight-spot years as Vice President, and eight years asPresident, a total of thirty-six years. It is not unlikely, therefore, thatthere will continue to be career politicians. The issue is not about total timethat one may participate in government, rather it is about how long one mayserve in a particular capacity. Term limits racket normal, but not political,support, thereby polarizing the electorate and the elected. This paper willdiscuss the popular support for term limits, the arguments on both sides, anddraw conclusions about the necessitate for Congressional term limits in the UnitedStatesSupport for term limits encompasses pie-eyed to three-quarters of theAmerican population (2). The question is why. The simple answer is that theAmerican people no longer trust a system they view as corrupt and biased towardsthe few. But the issue is really not this simple, nor is its foot of support.While on the surface it is corruption and bias... ...s Path to a instance Congress" U.S. Term Limits Foundation Outlook Series July, 1994Vol.3 zero(prenominal)2 www.termlimits.org/index.shtmlFund, John H "Term Limitation An Idea Whose Time Has Come" Policy outlineNo. 141 October 30, 1990 www.cato.org/pubs/pas/policyanalysis.html"Term Limits Excellent New Strategy" The Florida Times meat October 1, 1996www.termlimits.org/index.shtmlJacob, Paul "Choosing Term Limits" The Washington Times August 7, 1996www.termlimits.orgJacob, Paul "Whose regime is it Anyway?" www. termlimits.org/index.shtmlKolbe, John "Term Limits Sledgehammer" Phoenix Gazette June 7, 1996www.termlimits.orgLevine, Herbert M. Point-Counterpoint Readings in American Government St.Martins Press, New York. 1995Nelson, Lars-Erik "A Very Special family unit of Federal Employee" The WashingtonPost January 5, 1996 www.termlimits.org/index.shtmlOConnor, Karen and Larry J. Sabato American Government Roots and tidyAllyn and Bacon, Massachusetts. 1996Petracca, Mark "The Poison of Professional Politics" Policy Analysis No. 151May 10, 1996 www.cato.org/pubs/pas/policyanalysis..html