Term Limits Won't Fix Congress — Here's What Might
Oct 30, 2023
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The guests discuss why term limits may not be effective in reducing extreme partisanship and outside influence in Congress. They explore ideas like multi-member districts and primary election reforms that could make a bigger difference. They also touch on the struggles of a former vice president and address the frustration with Congress and hope for primary reform.
Term limits on congressional candidates may not solve issues like extreme partisanship and outside influence.
Other potential approaches, such as multi-member districts and reforms to primary elections, could address political polarization in Congress.
Deep dives
Term Limits on Congressional Candidates
Term limits on congressional candidates are a popular idea among voters, but they may not actually solve the issues people think they will. Supporters of term limits argue that it would address the incumbency advantage and reduce the amount of time spent raising money. They believe that by setting a maximum number of terms, lawmakers would have more time to focus on serving their constituents rather than fundraising. Additionally, proponents suggest that term limits would make lawmakers more beholden to their constituents rather than their party, potentially addressing political polarization in Congress. However, opponents argue that term limits could lead to a loss of institutional knowledge and policy expertise. They also point out the practical challenges in implementing term limits, such as the difficulty of defeating incumbents in elections and the potential unconstitutionality of self-imposed limits. Overall, while term limits may be popular in theory, there are complex considerations and potential drawbacks to be mindful of when discussing their implementation.
The Challenges of Implementing Term Limits
Implementing term limits on congressional candidates would require changes to federal law or even a constitutional amendment. Historically, Congress has debated term limits but has not made significant progress in passing legislation. Additionally, there are legal and process-related challenges to consider. The Supreme Court has previously indicated that it may be unconstitutional for Congress to set limits on its own members. This would necessitate a constitutional amendment, which is notoriously difficult to achieve. Furthermore, some critics argue that term limits could negatively impact the work of Congress, as it takes time for lawmakers to gain the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively serve their constituents. They believe that experienced legislators can be more effective in navigating complex legislative processes and achieving meaningful policy outcomes.
Alternative Approaches to Addressing Partisanship
In addition to term limits, there are other potential approaches to address political polarization and dissatisfaction with Congress. One option is to change how primaries are structured. Non-partisan primaries, where all candidates from all parties are listed on the same ballot, have been implemented in some states. This can break the two-party dominance and encourage competition from candidates outside the traditional Republican-Democratic duopoly. Another possibility is redefining how members are chosen from each state. By enlarging the size of districts and electing multiple representatives through ranked-choice voting, more parties could be represented in Congress. This could lead to increased choice for voters and reduced polarization. However, implementing these alternatives still poses challenges, including changing existing laws and overcoming partisan resistance. While there is dissatisfaction with the current system, it remains uncertain which reforms will gain traction and bring about meaningful change.
The idea of term limiting congressional representatives tends to poll well, but — in practice — the idea probably wouldn't reduce extreme partisanship or curb outside influence. But there are some ideas, like multi-member districts and reforms to primary elections, that could make a big difference.
This episode: congressional correspondent Kelsey Snell, voting correspondent Ashley Lopez and senior political editor and correspondent Ron Elving.
The podcast is produced by Casey Morell and Elena Moore. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.
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