Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called for Congressional term limits and said that, as president, he will work with the states to accomplish this.
“One of the things we need in this country is term limits for members of Congress. It’s a good policy. We have people like Pelosi that have been there for decade after decade. They’re more interested in advancing themselves than they are in delivering results for you. So we need term limits,” said DeSantis on Tuesday.
“Problem is, Congress is never going to enact this. As president, I will lead the efforts to bring about term limits through the states. Florida has already certified it, and many other states have certified it,” said DeSantis. “We have the ability to do this.”
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“We need term limits for members of Congress. If we do that, it changes the incentives in Washington. They’re not going to be there for 40 years. They have a limited amount of time. Three terms in the House, and two terms in the Senate, to actually get things done. And leave a legacy,” said DeSantis.
“We have it in Florida; it’s worked very well. We need it in Washington, D.C. I’m going to be a president that has a plan to bring this about. We’re going to work with these states to be able to get it done,” concluded DeSantis.
An in-depth study found that five in six Americans favor a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on Members of Congress.
While there has not been a vote on term limits in Congress since 1995, the issue was given new life during this year’s speakership negotiations when Speaker McCarthy guaranteed a vote on congressional term limits.
The Program for Public Consultation (PPC) at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy conducted the public consultation survey of 2700 registered voters.
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83% of registered voters nationwide supported passing a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on Congress, with little partisan difference: 86% of Republicans, 80% of Democrats, and 84% of independents were in favor.
Bipartisan support for this proposal has remained steady since PPC’s first public consultation survey on term limits in 2017, which found 80% in support.
“Bipartisan majorities of Americans continue to favor proposals to limit the terms of Members of Congress,” commented Steven Kull, director of PPC. “The overwhelming support for congressional term limits is also mirrored in the support for ballot measures to term limit state legislators in 16 states.”
Terms of Members of Congress
Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are considered for reelection every even year.
On the other hand, senators currently serve six-year terms, and elections are staggered over even years. This ensures that only approximately one-third of the Senate is up for reelection during any given election cycle.
Benefits of Congressional Term Limits
Term limits for members of Congress have been a topic of debate for many years. Advocates argue that term limits are essential for several reasons:
- Accountability: Term limits ensure that elected officials are held accountable for their actions. By limiting the number of terms a member can serve, there is a constant cycle of new representatives who can be held responsible for their decisions.
- Fresh Perspectives: Term limits promote the infusion of fresh ideas and perspectives into Congress. New representatives bring different experiences and viewpoints, leading to a more diverse and dynamic legislative body.
- Preventing Consolidation of Power: Without term limits, incumbents can amass significant political power and influence over time. This can create a system where those in power are difficult to challenge, hindering the democratic process.
- Encouraging Citizen Participation: Term limits provide opportunities for more citizens to participate in the political process. By limiting the time a representative can serve, new candidates have a chance to run for office and contribute to the democratic system.
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