Should we in the U. S. A seriously consider term and age limits for senators and representatives to make room for young and fresh blood in leadership?

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Incumbents tend to be seriously difficult to unseat because of their political influence and power and networking within the system, and mostly about a dozen or so congressional seats are competitive out of 435 seats which is why a lot politicians can stay in office for decades.

Having younger representatives representing the much younger population who's future will be impacted the most by laws and policies as older people will be dying off not far into the future.

Moreover, the far older generations had their opportunity and era and shouldn't be impacting younger generations future by their laws and polices.

Updates

1 y

Term limit is 18 years of service wheather consecutively or not.

Age limit should can't run for office after age 65.

[BCA6010]

If 65 is the retirement age for the general workforce, I see no reason why government positions should be different in that respect, beyond maybe a caveat that upon turning 65, the official could finish the remainder of their term.

As for term limits, I like the idea of an "up or out" policy, so any representative, senator, vice president or president can only occupy their seat for two terms before they must either leave, or run for higher office, and if someone goes straight to being say the vice president, they can't later be a congressman or senator. I would extend this to appointed positions such as cabinet members and directors as well to get rid of the musical chairs game. Supreme Court and other judges could remain an indefinite appointment period, but should still have a retirement age. Basically, there shouldn't be anyone turning politics especially at the federal level into a lifelong career, and states should be treating the vast majority of elected positions as part-time employees. Beyond times of emergency, there's really no need for anyone elected higher than city level to be employed full-time especially when the actual management of things is being handled by appointed people who are (at least in theory) experienced contractors or subject matter experts.

Of course this will never happen though since it would require the exact people it's meant to regulate to give up their own power.

[ObscuredBeyond]

It isn't about age; it's about accountability. "More experience" or "less experience" is meaningless. That's why they're supposed to teach civics in school! Moreover, anyone getting rich enough from public service to become millionaires just by putting pork in bills is not a public servant; but a criminal. By that logic, at least 90% of Congress needs to be thrown out, tried, convicted, and whatever's next depends on the magnitude of their crimes, both foreign and domestic.

It's OBSCENE what they can get off scott free for; that you or I would be in jail for microscopically less!

[SandyBeaches]

Not age, but term limits for sure.

Republicans and Democrats fight like cats and dogs. But they both come together on two things.

1. They get to vote for their own pay raises.

2. They get to decide term limits.

[MikeInHawaii]

I’d say if they agree on anything, it involves spending my money and/or taking my freedom.

[SandyBeaches]

@MikeInHawaii

They're are good at that; lol

[MikeInHawaii]

You show a picture of the longest serving congressman, John Dingell. He succeeded his father, who died in office after 25 years. He was replaced by his widow. So the family has held the seat for 90 years.

The fourth longest serving senator, Ted Kennedy, replaced his brother. I’d rather see term limits than age limits. I’d like to see retirerees with a lifetime of experience running a business or working a real job, serving in Washington. I’d rather have that than see a 79 year old, who has been in Washington since weeks after his 30th birthday, and has dementia, as leader of the free world!

[Reaper1985]

ideally there should be both term and career limits at the state and federal levels. heck even the state and federal supreme courts should have term limits.

it should also be a felony for them to vote on bills they themselves have not read cover to cover. because in many cases bills they vote on are over 100 pages long and are full of stuff that is not related to the main topic or name of bill.

so once they get x amount of these felonies they should be removed from office regardless of how long they have been there.

sadly most of this will likely never happen since they would be the ones to vote on their own term/career limits.

[Stoner710]

Yes and yes. As far a term limits goes I’d say keep it 2 4 and 6 but make the max number of years someone can server is 12 so 6 terms for house 3 terms for president and 2 terms for senators

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Too short of term limits.

[Stoner710]

make term limits longer? what would you suggest?

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Two terms of 9 years. 18 total.

[Stoner710]

You’d have to make a constitutional amendment for that

[AviatorTom]

Yes, term and age limits for politicians at all levels of government should be implemented. Government functions best when new ideas are presented.

[AviatorTom]

Re your update... 18 years is too long, let's make it 10 for Representatives (5x2-year terms) and 12 for Senators (2x6-year terms), which is 2 or 4 years longer than the President. 65 is a good age to limit run for office, that means the oldest Representative could be 67, and a Senator 71.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

18 years is good enough. It's less than 2 decades.

[monorprise]

Under the Federal Constitution Representatives and senators are suppose to have the same qualifications as members of their respective State houses.

States attempted to uses this to impose term limits and the same federal Congressmen sued their own states in court to get the Federal politicians they helped appoint to declare States could not declare such a limit upon their ability to run for reelection.

[MarkRet]

Yes, there should be term limits for senators and representatives, as well as age limits. 18 years would be good. That's 9 terms for representatives and 3 terms for senators. No one over 70 should be in political office either. Some of these people are using their political office as their retirement home, and we need younger people running the country. Of course, they'll NEVER vote in favor of their own term limits, so it will have to be amended into the Constitution by the states.

[SlangSlayer]

Any one over 65 can't be in anything political.

You can't be president at 18 for some reason. So why at dementia.

Term limits should be a thing or the should have to defend their title (lack of better words) every year or two years.

The 65 thing the reason why is your not invested in this country because your going to die pretty soon statistically speaking. So what do you care

[cloud9vortex1234]

They must be doing some good if they have been or were in politics that long. I think people should just vote them out if they care enough about them not being politicians. Still, there is more we can do to make the U. S. a better place. Lastly, the Average American needs to get into the habit of always voting in the local and Mid-Term Elections if they truly do care. The Average Republican always shows up to the polls.

[NathanDavis]

too bad, the ones to decide and would have the last word on that, would be... the old farts you would want to kick out

almost like if they had not seen it coming and planned for it in advance, lol

[maximumpower]

Yes.
Unfortunately, the folks who normally hold the keys to making this legislation just happen to be those who have been making $ on longevity.
It can be done but will take a hell of an effort to do so.

[Pudsmucker]

I agree with you we need term limits they made a career out of being a politician. You forgot a couple of them Gloria Feinstein, Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Waters. It's time for them to retire. They have bled us Americans too much.

[exitseven]

I have no problem with older people running for office. Besides, who makes the decision of what is considered too old.

Term limits is the solution to this problem.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

There has to be a age limit. Older people aren't as mentally sharp and aware of once they were.

[exitseven]

everyone is different. Listen to President Trump speak now and it is obvious he has all his marbles and he is in his 70s. Maybe the mental acuity test that Trump took but Biden refuses should be given.

[MikeInHawaii]

I’m 58. I know people younger than I am who are senile, especially after strokes or aneurysms. I also know a 104-year-old who’s mind is sharp.

[exitseven]

@MikeInHawaii like I say- everyone is different. If you have a aneurism or a stroke, that can be a debilitating problem that can effect mental performance. .

[DCooper]

They should limit total term in elected office to no more than the total number of years a person has worked an actual job in the real world. That would pretty much fix it.

[Anonymous]

Seniority and apparent job for life do not in and of themselves demonstrate a need to replace these people.

They may offer history, continuity, and experience that a younger less experienced individual would not have.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

A person 60 plus years old who is power hungry who doesn't have much left to live shouldn't be deciding the future of people 30 and 40 years younger.

A person that far advanced in years from the rest of majority population comes from a totally different era and doesn't understand the newer generation and their needs and most likely doesn't care too.

[Opinion Owner]

While it's true they most likely do not understand the nuances of your generation, and they have lived more of their lives, I disagree that they do not have value. And it's not necessarily appropriate to pander to each new generation anyway. It's ok you think differently. And maybe you're right.

[Waldoe]

I want the person that is representing my interests to have POWER to make it happen, that comes from experience and a long time in the "service" of their constituents.. New/Young Representatives are pretty "powerless", like a "new-born"

[007kingifrit]

no, young people are stupid and people are living longer and staying healthier longer, today's 80 year old will be tomorrow's tomorrow's 120 year old

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

I'm not talking about 18 year olds in office. These old people are far gone and being in power too long they get drunk with power, become corrupt and totally out of touch with the people and their needs.

[007kingifrit]

if you want to get rid of career politicians i agree, no person or family member should be allowed to hold office if they or a family member held office within the past 10 years and 2 terms maximum for all forms of government

but a single old doddering fool doesn't require us to change the rules, especially when in 10 years 70 year olds will be younger and healthier than they are now. that's medical advancement

[Friendlybro79]

Absolutely should have term limits. I say 10 years max

[JohnK123]

Well no because they are winning for a reason

[WhiteBoyChill]

Well I’d prefer if more people like Donald Trump didn’t have term limits

[SevilleJuan]

Yes. All three branches have mental evaluations each year, too.