Why does Congress look like a retirement home?
I don’t believe that career politicians were ever the Founders' vision, yet here we are. Politicians sit in office, sometimes for decades, wielding power like medieval kings, insulated from the real-world consequences of their decisions. That’s one reason why the Convention of States (COS) is leading a grassroots charge to impose term limits on elected officials and government bureaucrats. Their proposal isn’t just ambitious, it’s essential. Let’s talk about what COS is fighting for, what it’ll take to succeed, and how term limits could actually work.
The Convention of States' Vision for Term Limits
The COS movement isn’t playing small ball, they want term limits for all elected officials, even unelected federal bureaucrats. That means everyone, from Congress to career appointees in agencies like the IRS and CDC.
Here’s the Convention of States Article V proposal regarding Term Limits:
· Congressional Term Limits: A cap on how many terms members of the House and Senate can serve. COS has floated options like three House terms (six years) and two Senate terms (12 years).
· Federal Bureaucrats: Limits on the tenure of high-ranking, unelected officials to prevent them from wielding unchecked power for decades. Think about Fauci’s 50-year government career, exactly what COS wants to stop.
· Supreme Court Justices: Some COS supporters also advocate for a time limit on judicial appointments, though this is a more debated topic.
The idea is simple: Prevent entrenchment, encourage fresh ideas, and keep power-hungry elites from turning their offices into personal fiefdoms.
Want to read COS’s full plan? Check it out at ConventionofStates.com.
What It Takes to Amend the Constitution
Imposing term limits isn’t a matter of passing a bill. It’s a constitutional amendment, a heavy lift but not impossible. The COS process follows Article V of the Constitution, which gives “states” the power to propose amendments with very minimal involvement by congress and none by the POTUS.
Here’s how this would work (admittedly from a 30K ft view):
1. 34 States Call for a Convention: Two-thirds of state legislatures must pass a resolution to call for a convention to discuss amendments. COS already has resolutions passed in 19 states as of this post and counting.
2. Proposals at the Convention: Once the convention is convened, delegates debate and propose amendments. Usually, conventions adopt standard parliamentary rules to ensure orderly debate, motions, and voting. So, no runaway issues…
3. 38 States to Ratify: Any proposed amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of the states (38 out of 50).
It’s an extremely high bar, but that’s by design, the Founders wanted to ensure only the most necessary amendments made it through. COS’s grassroots strategy focuses on mobilizing millions of Americans to pressure their state legislatures into action.
Think this sounds impossible? It isn’t. The 27th Amendment, limiting congressional pay raises, took over 200 years to pass, but grassroots pressure made it happen. COS isn’t reinventing the wheel; they’re just putting it into overdrive.
How Term Limits Could Work
The question isn’t just “Should we?” but “How would we?” COS’s framework offers a great starting point.
How could term limits transform government?
· Rotation of Power: Regular turnover helps to ensure that no individual or party consolidates control for decades. This would mean fewer Nancy Pelosis and Mitch Mc Connells clinging to power well past their expiration dates. Mc Connell recently fell again while walking in the halls of Congress; I’m thinking his time has passed…
· Accountability Through Fresh Blood: New representatives bring new ideas, a stronger connection to voters, and less temptation to “play the game” for personal gain which is very obvious. The majority of those in Government make less than $200K a year but after a term or two come out multi-millionaires. Have you checked into AOC’s finances lately? How does this happen except by shady dealings?
· Less Lobbyist Influence: Career politicians become lobbyists’ best friends. Shorter terms mean lobbyists lose their stranglehold on entrenched officials and their ability to “buy” support and votes on their projects.
To work, term limits need enforcement and fairness. Here’s a model COS and others could consider:
· House Limits: Three terms max (2 years per term, six years max).
· Senate Limits: Two terms max (6 years per term,12 years max).
· Lifetime Caps: No “musical chairs”, a politician can’t jump between offices forever. Set a lifetime cap of 20 years in total for federal service “at all levels”.
· Bureaucrat Turnover: Cap agency “leadership roles” to 10 years. Obviously, these “leadership roles” would need to be very clearly defined and monitored.
Critics argue that term limits would lead to “inexperienced” leadership, but here’s my belief: Our government is already run by staffers and bureaucrats, not elected officials. Term limits wouldn’t upend governance; they’d reinvigorate it.
Why the Time for Term Limits Is Now
The federal government has become a self-sustaining machine, completely disconnected from the people it serves. Career politicians and bureaucrats spend decades accumulating power, lining their pockets with cash, and ignoring the will of the people. COS’s push for term limits isn’t a pipe dream, it’s a lifeline for a republic on the edge of oligarchy.
If you’re tired of watching Washington, D.C., recycle the same failed ideas and power-hungry leaders, it’s time to act. Contact your state representatives. Educate your neighbors about the need for an Article V Convention. Join the movement that’s putting power back in the hands of the people.
Grassroots activism built this country. It’s very likely the only thing that can save it.
Just Sayin…
Ken Whaley
ken.whaley@restorefirstprinciples.com
https://restorefirstprinciples.substack.com
Liberty Once Lost is Lost Forever ~ John Adams
