Young People, Old Politicians: Why Young People Should Care About Term Limits

The following was written by COS intern Dani Landivar.

Imagine a forest where the same few trees block sunlight, preventing new growth. This is like a system where the same leaders stay in power for too long, stopping fresh ideas and leadership. A survey by the Program for Public Consultation found that 83% of Americans support a constitutional amendment for term limits, including 80% of Democrats, 86% of Republicans, and 84% of Independents. It's the most popular, bipartisan issue in America today.

As a young person myself, I have often wondered why we as young people should care about such a seemingly trivial issue as term limits. Working with Convention of States has given me a fresh perspective on this issue, and my hope is to bring this perspective to you.

Did you know that John Dingell Jr. held power in Michigan's 12th district for 59 years, the longest Congressional tenure in U.S. history? His father held the same seat for 22 years, and his wife has been in office for 10 years. This is just one of many shocking examples of politicians who have stayed in office for decades, raising concerns about the concentration of power in government

As of 2023, more than 56 senators are over the age of 50, 35 are over 60, and 13 are over 70!

This is where term limits become important, restricting the number of terms an elected official can serve in a specific office.

Congress tried to set presidential term limits 270 times over the years, but the effort grew stronger after Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected for four terms as president. While his leadership during the Great Depression and World War II was important, people worried that a president serving so long could take control of the government and abuse his power. To stop this, Congress proposed the 22nd Amendment in 1947, limiting presidents to two terms in office. The proposed amendment passed in 1951.

As we can see, the purpose for establishing term limits, to begin with, was to mitigate abuse of power at a federal level, but isn’t that what we are now seeing take place in Congress itself? 

We have seen multiple examples of Congress abusing its power over the years—ranging from the abuse of the Patriot Act, Government Secrecy, Political Spying, etc.—therefore the time to act is now!

Term limits can impact our future as young people by helping ensure that Congress’ abuse of power is mitigated and that fresh ideas are represented in government. When politicians stay in office for decades, they become disconnected from the needs and concerns of younger generations. Term limits create a system where elected officials are more accountable to the people they serve, knowing they can’t stay in office forever, and ensure that the policies made today consider the long-term well-being of the younger generations who will inherit them.

Thomas Jefferson once said, “To take a single step beyond the boundaries specially drawn around the powers of Congress is to take possession of a boundless field of power, no longer susceptible to definition.”

Jefferson was warning against government overreach, stressing the importance of Congress staying within the limits set by the Constitution to prevent the abuse of power.

Therein lies the problem: Congress will never establish limits on themselves, as many members benefit from long tenures in office. That's where an Article V convention comes into play.

An Article V convention allows states to propose term limits for members of Congress, which would then need to be ratified by three-fourths of the states to become law. By implementing term limits, this process would help restore accountability in Congress, promote fresh ideas and leadership, and return power to the voters, ensuring that future generations have a greater say in their government.

Our constitutional republic requires a tool that returns power to the people. When the same politicians stay in power for decades, much like old trees that block sunlight, it becomes harder for our voices to be heard. Through an Article V convention to set term limits, we can make sure power doesn’t stay with the same few people for too long.

As the next generation, we have the chance to lead this change and bring in fresh ideas and leaders. The time to act is now—together, we can bring term limits to Congress and give power back to the people.