Congressional Term Limits Benefits

Congressional term limits will make possible what the framers imagined when they created the Constitution in 1787. At the time the Constitution was drafted, career politicians did not exist and were consequently not taken into account. Yet today, career politicians fill the majority of the seats in Congress. This situation goes completely against Federalist No. 62, in which James Madison writes, “Every new election in the States is found to change one half of the representatives. From this change of men must proceed a change of opinions; and from a change of opinions, a change of measures.” Term limits will enforce this idea, and if added to the Constitution, will improve on American democracy by renewing competition in elections and providing better representation of citizens within Congress. Over the past three decades, elections have ceased to give people the choice they are intended to have when voting for their senators and representatives. From 1975 to the present, incumbents have won their reelection bids over 90% of the time. Opponents to term limits point out that elections are designed to hold officials accountable to the people they are representing. Yet, congressmen use their large monetary funds, benefits, name recognition, and experience to end rival campaigns before they
Congressmen would no longer be spending the bulk of their time coping with party affiliations and the overpowered seniority, but could instead focus on making the correct decisions in Congress on behalf of their constituents. This notion was proven in a study by Economic Inquiry, which concluded that this re-centered focus, lack of political pressure, and more direct influence of the people would improve the overall performance of Congress. Which, would in turn, help bring to pass what the framers originally founded. A legislative body made up of the people, speaking for the