General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Term limits: another way to kill off the government [View all]LiberalFighter
(50,501 posts)Term limits subvert lawmaking's intent
Two recent letters have strongly supported term limits. They are mostly misguided.
One suggested members of Congress only serve one term a folly and not warranted when elections already serve as a form of term limit. Another stated the Founding Fathers under the Constitution intended members to only serve one term. This was not intended or included, nor followed.
The average seniority of members in Congress is 10.1 years on the Senate side and 8.6 years in the House at the start of 2019. A total of 20 senators were elected in 2016 or later and 144 in the House.
Term limits would discourage better and more qualified people from seeking office. There are already too many unqualified and unethical people in Congress; we don't need more.
Under term limits, the executive branch would become a haven for corruption when the legislative branch doesn't pursue needed oversight. For legislators to conduct proper oversight requires time to build up the knowledge and experience specific to the federal government.
Building good relationships with other members of Congress, including those from the other side, takes time. Experience and knowledge are critical for providing services to constituents and offering or supporting legislation vital for the government's operation.
Focus should be on campaign finances and lobbyists, especially when it is easier for foreigners and corrupt individuals to contribute to candidates or PACs. Then there are the lobbyists, too many of whom are former members of Congress.