A recent study by the Program for Public Consultation at the University of Maryland found that 5 out of 6 Americans favor putting term limits on their congressmen via a constitutional amendment.
What’s even more interesting is that these numbers do not change across party lines. From the PPC’s website:
“Passing a constitutional amendment to establish term limits in Congress was favored by 83% of registered voters nationally, with little difference between partisans: 86% of Republicans, 80% of Democrats and 84% of independents.”
The study was conducted as fairly and accurately as possible, with a short briefing being prepared for participants, and that was approved by both opponents and supporters of such an amendment. This was only the latest study by the PPC on the issue, with a similar one occurring in August of 2017. The results for both studies were the same: 80% approval for term limits, with the majority wanting four terms for representatives, and two terms for senators.
But it’s not just the federal folks whose political careers Americans want curbed. Steven Kull, director of PPC, commented:
“The overwhelming support for congressional term limits is also mirrored in the support for ballot measures to term limit state legislators in 16 states.”
That’s the “What.” Now how about the “Why?” The most common reason the study found was that many voters believe incumbents (candidates running for reelection), are too secure in their positions, and therefore need not concern themselves as much with their constituents’ needs back home.
Some say that while term limits may sound like a good idea on the surface, they do not work in practice. The most popular counter-argument was that term limits might reduce the amount of experience on Congress. We challenge the critics with this fact:
The most experienced Congress in history is the current one that’s driving America into the ground, while the most inexperienced one was the Continental Congress of 1789, which created the greatest government in human history.
Political experience does not automatically equal good statesmanship.
The PPC study had a large enough sample to incorporate views of both Republican and Democrat areas of America. In all cases, very large majorities in deep red (86%) and deep blue districts (78%) favored a constitutional amendment to establish term limits.
Baltimore’s recent term-limiting of their local officials by a 70% vote backs this up.
If Americans want it, it’s the job of their representatives to do it. But Washington well never limit itself, and the Founders knew that, which is why they gave us Article V!
It’s time to call a Convention of States and rein in the out-of-control federal government! More than 80% of America wants it, and we only need three-fourths! The Convention is coming!
