ABOUT FEDERAL TERM LIMITS
In 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that states could not impose congressional term limits — it would take a constitutional amendment to accomplish the objective. Nearly 30 years later, it may be time to embark down such a path.
The high court decision invalidated provisions in 23 states — including Nevada — in which voters had approved limitations on how long their senators and representatives could serve in Congress …
“Elected office should represent a short-term privilege of public service, not a career choice,” said Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., who, with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, introduced an amendment this year to limit terms for federal offices. “Those of us in Congress ought to serve for a reasonable period of time and then return home to live under the laws we enacted.”
The Cruz-Norman plan would limit senators to two, six-year terms and confine House members to three, two-year stints …
Term limits aren’t a magic bullet. But they will ensure a healthy turnover in the nation’s political class while potentially encouraging new ideas and spurring elected officials to focus more on the nation’s business than on fundraising for the next election.
The republic has survived presidential term limits for more than 70 years without incident. According to U.S. Term Limits, a 2021 poll on the subject found that 80% of respondents favored restricting how long members of Congress may serve.
Voters who want such a change should pressure their congressional representatives to get on board with the Cruz-Norman amendment.