The United States of America desperately needs to reform the House Of Representatives. It is up to the people to push the reforms and vote for people who will work to reform the house. In the United States Senate, where the average age of members is 64.3 years, it’s time to discuss term limits. In the current U.S. House of Representatives, 15 members are over 80. These are not seasoned politicians. They are old, out-of-touch politicians who keep getting elected over and over because they wield too much political power. With octogenarians making decisions that affect our daily lives, it’s essential to consider the benefits of limiting the terms. We would create a more dynamic and representative government by having term limits.
Proposed Term Limits
How about we limit House members to, say, 12 years?
For those who don’t know, the term length for a United States Senator is six years, and currently, there are no term limits for senators! In the House of Representatives, members are elected for two-year terms; for those members, 12 years is six terms! That is a long time and a lot of campaign promises! The average length of service in the House in the current Congress is 8.9 years or about 4.5 terms so my requirement is in line with the current average time people are spending in office. In the Senate, the average service time is 11 years, or less than two terms, according to the Congressional Research Service. My plan puts a cap because some long-serving members have overstayed their welcome.
Recently it has become common for members of age to die in office some recent ones are listed below.
- Senator Michael Brown, passed on December 21, 2023, at the age of 71
- Senator Dianne Feinstein, passed away on September 29, 2023, at the age of 90
- Rep. Alcee Hastings, died on April 6, 2021, at the age of 84
Term Limits Encourage Fresh Perspectives
In the past, there have been attempts to introduce term limits for senators, but none have been successful. The longest-serving senator in U.S. history was Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, who served for over 51 years. This lengthy tenure highlights that some senators can hold their positions for an extended period without term limits. By implementing term limits, we can ensure that new voices and ideas are brought forth. Excessively long terms can lead to more innovative solutions to the challenges faced by our country.
Term Limits Reduce Corruption
Long-term House members can become entrenched in the system, leading to corruption and self-interest. Term limits can help reduce this risk by ensuring members are not in office long enough to become too comfortable with the status quo.
Term Limits Increase Accountability
With term limits in place, House members will be more accountable to their constituents, as they must demonstrate their effectiveness during their limited time in office. This can lead to more responsive and responsible governance.
Term Limits Promote Diversity
By encouraging regular turnover in the House, term limits can promote diversity in the chamber. This can lead to a more representative government that better reflects the needs and interests of all Americans.
Age Minimum
Currently, the United States has age requirements to run for office. Article I, Section 2, Clause 2: No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty-five (25) Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected.
The minimum age requirement to be the President of the United States is thirty-five (35) years old, as stated in the U.S. Constitution. This requirement was set by the Founding Fathers during the Constitutional Convention in 1787, with the belief that a person of this age would possess the necessary maturity, wisdom, and life experience to handle the responsibilities of the office. While there is no upper age limit for presidential eligibility. There should be! President Joe Biden, was 78 years old when he was elected in 2020 clearly too old to govern.
The issue is that we as a country have not considered the issue of a top line and forced age out.
Proposed Force Retirement Age
I propose seventy-five (75) — we should cap the age of government service to 75 years old. Social Security has a “full retirement age” determined by the year you were born. For those born in 1960 or later, it’s 67 years old. But you can start collecting Social Security benefits as early as 62 or as late as 70. Life expectancy in the US is around 79.11 years old, which means you could have several good years of retirement to enjoy life. You would be able to retire and still keep your dignity.
Let’s be honest, with advances in medical science, you might live long enough to see the first colony on Mars. People live much longer; that said,
- Does the mind stay as sharp?
- Do you still slow down as you age?
The answer is obviously yes. Do you really want someone that old to lead the country? Having a fresh perspective is impossible when you have been in office for more than 12 years.
Currently, the global average retirement age is around 63.75 years. Elected government officials should have an age limit, just like the minimum age requirement for the president. A top limit that is in step with the retirement age makes a lot of sense for the country. In the United States, for example, the mandatory retirement age for most military personnel is 62 years old, with some exceptions for certain high-ranking officers. This policy ensures that the military maintains a strong and youthful force while providing opportunities for younger generations to rise.
Term limits tested
Some countries have decided that elected officials should be changed often and regularly. In the United States, the President is limited to two terms of four years each, thanks to the 22nd Amendment. In Mexico, the President is limited to a single six-year term. In Argentina, the President can serve two consecutive four-year terms. While these limits above affect the highest office, we should be working toward limits on ALL elected positions.
