Why no Congressional Term Limits?

In the hit Broadway musical Hamilton, President George Washington summons Alexander Hamilton into his study to discuss writing what would come to be known as Washington’s “Farewell Address.” Hamilton protests the very idea of Washington leaving the Presidency: “As far as the People are concerned, you have to serve, you could continue to serve!” Washington, insistent and resolute, replies, “We’re gonna teach them how to say goodbye.”

Washington set an example – two terms, no more – that every President voluntarily followed until 1940, when Franklin Roosevelt ran, and won, his third of four terms in office. After Roosevelt’s tenure, the American People wisely and quickly enacted the 22nd Amendment, imposing a two-term limit on the Presidency.

No such limit exists concerning the United States Congress, however, and as a result, we are increasingly left with a legislature full of career politicians who have not learned Washington’s lesson – they simply do not know how to say goodbye.

The tenure of Members of both Houses of Congress has steadily increased in the modern era. As a result, the average and median age of Members of the House of Representatives has increased by nearly ten years since the early 1980s, leaving it as “one of the oldest pools of politicians in the world today.” Indeed, the percentage of Representatives 40 or under was cut in half from 1981 to 2021.

Age alone, of course, is not a problem. The problem is that between partisan gerrymandering, closed primaries, and the extreme advantage of incumbency – sitting Members of the House win about 95% of reelection bids, on average – the People are all too often left with the mere appearance of choice. In most cases, Congressional elections are a fait accompli well before the first ballot is cast. 

If voters don’t have a real choice and elected officials, in turn, do not “fear” the ballot box, then we are left with an increasingly unaccountable system that ceases to benefit from the wisdom of the People that is the lifeblood of Democracy.

The good news is that the American People, across party lines, recognize the need for term limits on Congress. A recent poll by Pew showed that support for congressional term limits has risen to 87%, the highest ever recorded. A similar poll from the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy found that 83% of registered voters nationally support a constitutional amendment to establish term limits in Congress – including 86% of Republicans, 80% of Democrats, and 84% of independents.

Let’s be clear, though: Congress isn’t going to limit itself. For decades, courageous members of Congress have proposed term limits, only to be soundly rejected by their peers. Just last year, House Joint Resolution 11 by Representative Ralph Norman (R-SC) was defeated in committee despite having bipartisan support from over 100 lawmakers.

Fortunately, the Founders recognized the risk of Congressional intransigence and crafted a way for the People to amend the Constitution without Congressional support. How? By having the states call for a convention to adopt a congressional term limits amendment.  

When enough states request a convention to add a term limits amendment to the Constitution, Congress is bypassed and the amendment can be proposed directly by the states, with ¾ of the states needed for ratification.

Eight states have already called for a limited convention to propose a congressional term limits amendment to the Constitution. Oregon should join them.

Setting congressional term limits would take power away from Washington insiders and put it back where it belongs – with the People. 

It will diversify Congress – providing a fairer playing field for younger candidates, as well as women and Hispanics.

And it will lead to a Congress that is responsive – and accountable –  to the issues facing everyday Americans.

As Benjamin Franklin (who supported term limits) aptly said, “In free governments, the rulers are the servants, and the people their superiors…For the former to return among the latter does not degrade but promote them.”

It’s time to teach our politicians how to say goodbye.

Let’s put the Beaver State on record for congressional term limits.

Andrew Kalloch is the Oregon State Co-Chair for U.S. Term Limits. He resides in Eugene.