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Current Events => Politics => Topic started by: Chris_ on January 31, 2009, 06:42:17 AM

Title: Congressional term limits
Post by: Chris_ on January 31, 2009, 06:42:17 AM
How far will this go?

Quote
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of consecutive terms that a Member of Congress may serve. (Introduced in House)

HJ 14 IH


111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. J. RES. 14
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of consecutive terms that a Member of Congress may serve.


IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 8, 2009
Mr. PLATTS introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of consecutive terms that a Member of Congress may serve.


Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within five years after the date of its submission for ratification:

`Article --

`Section 1. No person who has been a Senator for two full consecutive terms shall again be a Senator until the date that is one year after the end of such second full consecutive term .

`Section 2. No person who has been a Representative for six full consecutive terms shall again be a Representative until the date that is one year after the end of the sixth full consecutive term .

`Section 3. For the purposes of this article, any term that began before the date of the ratification of this article shall not be included in determining the number of full consecutive terms that a person has been a Senator or Representative.'.

LINK (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c111:6:./temp/~c1118SxeRE::)
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: docstew on January 31, 2009, 06:50:07 AM
seems fair to me
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: formerlurker on January 31, 2009, 06:51:55 AM
Never, ever, happen.

The far majority of Congressmen voting on this would effectively be voting themselves out of a job if it passes.
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: Redstatecka on January 31, 2009, 08:55:23 AM
Maybe a single term for senators and two or three consecutive ones for reprsentatives? Twelve straight years is a long time for anyone in Congress, IMO.

So what, though? The likelihood of this thing getting out of committee is slim. In the House or Senate? No likelihood.

Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: Chris_ on January 31, 2009, 01:21:15 PM
I'm so in favor of congressional term limits. I'm also in favor of age limits of say 80 as the cut off to run for an office.
I do not think a 97 year old man (Byrd) is capable of making good sound decisions. Some of those geezers get in there
and stay all their lives - they are so out of touch with the world outside of DC. They have no connection to real life.

I am FOR term limits in a big way. 
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: djones520 on January 31, 2009, 02:02:51 PM
Maybe a single term for senators and two or three consecutive ones for reprsentatives? Twelve straight years is a long time for anyone in Congress, IMO.

So what, though? The likelihood of this thing getting out of committee is slim. In the House or Senate? No likelihood.



I'd be just fine with it.  Better then the 20-30 years we've had a lot of people serving.
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: Redstatecka on January 31, 2009, 03:06:40 PM
I'm so in favor of congressional term limits. I'm also in favor of age limits of say 80 as the cut off to run for an office.
I do not think a 97 year old man (Byrd) is capable of making good sound decisions. Some of those geezers get in there
and stay all their lives - they are so out of touch with the world outside of DC. They have no connection to real life.

I am FOR term limits in a big way. 

Republican Strom Thurmond was 100 when he died, having served 48 years of his life as a U.S. senator from South Carolina. He died approximately six months or so after he left the Senate.

And, BTW: Those "geezers" stay at the will of the majority in their states who elected them. Can't blame the senators if they find long-term employment and their employer, the people, keeps sendiing them back.
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: Zeus on January 31, 2009, 04:15:08 PM
Republican Strom Thurmond was 100 when he died, having served 48 years of his life as a U.S. senator from South Carolina. He died approximately six months or so after he left the Senate.

And, BTW: Those "geezers" stay at the will of the majority in their states who elected them. Can't blame the senators if they find long-term employment and their employer, the people, keeps sendiing them back.

Thast's a big part of the reason the only term limits I favor are elections.
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: rich_t on January 31, 2009, 06:32:25 PM
Republican Strom Thurmond was 100 when he died, having served 48 years of his life as a U.S. senator from South Carolina. He died approximately six months or so after he left the Senate.

And, BTW: Those "geezers" stay at the will of the majority in their states who elected them. Can't blame the senators if they find long-term employment and their employer, the people, keeps sendiing them back.

Fine then only let them vote on issues for their state only.  Why should the rest of the nation suffer over the naivete of those in SC?

I have been a long time advocate of congressional term limits.  12 year total limit per lifetime works for me.
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: rich_t on January 31, 2009, 06:34:25 PM
Thast's a big part of the reason the only term limits I favor are elections.

I take it that you aren't in favor of presidential term limits then?
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: Zeus on January 31, 2009, 06:44:38 PM
I take it that you aren't in favor of presidential term limits then?

Actually no but I do & can see the need for that position to be term limited.
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: rich_t on January 31, 2009, 06:47:33 PM
Actually no but I do & can see the need for that position to be term limited.

How so?

Congress has way more actual power then the President when you boil down all the fluff.
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: Zeus on January 31, 2009, 07:19:32 PM
How so?

Congress has way more actual power then the President when you boil down all the fluff.

Yes & no. Congress doesn't nominate anyone for govt posts or establish policy which in turn leads to legislation in support of said policy.
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: Redstatecka on January 31, 2009, 07:20:30 PM
Fine then only let them vote on issues for their state only.  Why should the rest of the nation suffer over the naivete of those in SC?.

You could make that argument about every senator, from every state, from every region.
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: rich_t on January 31, 2009, 07:27:43 PM
Yes & no. Congress doesn't nominate anyone for govt posts or establish policy which in turn leads to legislation in support of said policy.

But Congress does have to confirm many of them.  Also congress always has the option to refuse to write and pass legislation in support of a President's requested policies.

I'm not a fan of big government and I support limiting the time politicians have to "entrench" themselves in the system.  A simple review of the COTUS indicates that our founders never intended being a congressman or senator to be a full time job to begin with.  To me anyway.
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: rich_t on January 31, 2009, 07:28:03 PM
You could make that argument about every senator, from every state, from every region.


And I do.
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: Zeus on January 31, 2009, 07:30:43 PM
And I do.

In essence it's an anti federalist argument.
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: rich_t on January 31, 2009, 07:37:51 PM
In essence it's an anti federalist argument.

In my case it is more of small federal government with a defined limit on government power argument.

I have no problem with having a federal government.  I have a huge problem with the monstrosity we now have sitting in DC.
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: Chris_ on January 31, 2009, 09:58:23 PM
I'm with Richy Rich. 12 years max is all one should be allowed to serve in Congress.
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: rich_t on January 31, 2009, 10:03:03 PM
I'm with Richy Rich. 12 years max is all one should be allowed to serve in Congress.


I'll forgive you for that reference once.

Please don't do it again.

 :cheersmate: :-)
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: Eupher on January 31, 2009, 10:03:13 PM
In my case it is more of small federal government with a defined limit on government power argument.

I have no problem with having a federal government.  I have a huge problem with the monstrosity we now have sitting in DC.

Bingo. And h5.
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: Chris_ on January 31, 2009, 10:17:33 PM
I'll forgive you for that reference once.

Please don't do it again.

 :cheersmate: :-)

My apologies Mr. T.  :fuelfire:
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: rich_t on January 31, 2009, 10:24:23 PM
My apologies Mr. T.  :fuelfire:

rich will do.

 :-)
Title: Re: Congressional term limits
Post by: Chris_ on January 31, 2009, 11:17:03 PM
Rich it is then. (http://www.conservativecave.com/Smileys/default/beercheers.gif)