Unveiling a Bold Plan: A New Amendment to Reshape Congress

Capitol dome with American flag, under cloudy sky.

Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Ralph Norman propose a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on Congress, aiming to shift away from lifelong political careers.

At a Glance

  • Proposed amendment would limit U.S. Senators to two six-year terms
  • U.S. House Representatives would be limited to three two-year terms
  • Terms served before ratification would not count towards the limit
  • Amendment aims to promote citizen legislators over career politicians
  • Proposal faces significant hurdles for implementation

Cruz and Norman Introduce Term Limit Amendment

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Ralph Norman have introduced a constitutional amendment aimed at imposing term limits on members of Congress. The proposal seeks to address what they perceive as issues in Washington, D.C. by promoting a government of citizen legislators rather than career politicians.

The proposed amendment would limit U.S. Senators to two six-year terms and Members of the U.S. House of Representatives to three two-year terms. This initiative is motivated by concerns over power abuse and entrenched politicians in Congress, aligning with the vision of the Founding Fathers for temporary service in government.

Returning to the Founders’ Vision

Senator Cruz emphasized the contrast between the Founding Fathers’ vision of temporary service in government and the current situation of long-term political careers influenced by special interests. The amendment aims to shift the focus back to citizen legislators, as originally envisioned by America’s founders. – Source

Importantly, terms served before the amendment’s ratification would not count towards the limit, effectively allowing for a reset of all current congressional tenures. This provision could potentially increase support for the amendment among sitting members of Congress.

Challenges Ahead for the Amendment

Despite generating interest, the proposal faces significant hurdles for implementation. Constitutional amendments require wide-ranging support across Congress and from the states, a feat that has proven challenging in previous attempts due to entrenched partisan disagreements. – Source

The process for amending the Constitution is deliberately difficult, requiring a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate, followed by ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures. This high bar has resulted in similar proposals stalling during committee reviews in the past.

Public Opinion and Political Will

While polls consistently show that a majority of Americans support term limits for Congress, translating this public sentiment into political action has proven challenging. The amendment’s success will depend on building a broad coalition of support across party lines and convincing current lawmakers to potentially limit their own political careers.

As the proposal moves forward, it will likely face intense scrutiny and debate. Supporters argue that term limits would bring fresh perspectives and reduce the influence of special interests, while critics contend that it could lead to a loss of institutional knowledge and empower unelected staffers and lobbyists. The coming months will reveal whether this latest attempt at congressional term limits can gain the momentum needed to overcome the significant obstacles in its path.

Sources:

  1. Sen. Cruz, Rep. Norman, Colleagues Introduce Constitutional Amendment to Impose Term Limits for Congress
  2. Lawmakers Propose Amendment to Congressional Term Limits