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Algernon Moncrieff

(5,790 posts)
Mon Oct 10, 2016, 12:07 PM Oct 2016

Would you support a Constitutional Amendment to change House terms from 2 years to 4 years?

Would you support changing the terms of House members from 2 years to 4 years?

The argument for 4-year house terms is that House members essentially are in constant campaign mode. Since they are always having to fundraise, and work for a re-election that is right around the corner, it makes them more susceptible to outside interest groups with deep pockets.

The argument against 4-year house terms is that the 2-year election cycle makes House members more responsive to the public mood, and more responsive to constituent needs.


14 votes, 1 pass | Time left: Unlimited
I'd support a Constitutional Amendment making House terms 4 years instead of 2 years
1 (7%)
I'd oppose a Constitutional Amendment making House terms 4 years instead of 2 years
13 (93%)
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Would you support a Constitutional Amendment to change House terms from 2 years to 4 years? (Original Post) Algernon Moncrieff Oct 2016 OP
IMO, 2 years is too long to be able to get rid of a candidate who got your vote through napi21 Oct 2016 #1
Give them four years, but establish a one- or two-term limit Orrex Oct 2016 #2
I might support it IF they were also term-limited to two terms... MANative Oct 2016 #3
public financing of elections edhopper Oct 2016 #4
I would support an amendment adding term limits... neeksgeek Oct 2016 #5
I say term limits of 12 years total meow2u3 Oct 2016 #14
Yeah, I think changing fundraising rules would be more effective. Brickbat Oct 2016 #7
Only when progressives hold a substantial majority Fluke a Snooker Oct 2016 #8
First, welcome to DU Algernon Moncrieff Oct 2016 #17
Yes, in conjunction with a requirement for nonpartisan Boundary Commissions, Nye Bevan Oct 2016 #9
I support 4 year Rep terms ProudToBeBlueInRhody Oct 2016 #10
no - but I would sure go for changing the senate to 4 years rurallib Oct 2016 #11
How about this? atreides1 Oct 2016 #12
term limIts suck. california did it JI7 Oct 2016 #15
i'd like everyone to be on the same 4 year presidential cycle. all these off year elections are just La Lioness Priyanka Oct 2016 #13
Nope and no damned term limits either. If Americans won't take responsibility for elections CBGLuthier Oct 2016 #16
I'd make all primary elections open to all voters. Skink Oct 2016 #18
I would support an amendment that increased the size of the house ChairmanAgnostic Oct 2016 #19
No End Gerrymandering and Make More District Competitive is What Needs to Be Done Stallion Oct 2016 #20

napi21

(45,806 posts)
1. IMO, 2 years is too long to be able to get rid of a candidate who got your vote through
Mon Oct 10, 2016, 12:10 PM
Oct 2016

deception. Few if any keep their campaign promises, but some turn out to be downright horrible and must be ousted.

Orrex

(63,213 posts)
2. Give them four years, but establish a one- or two-term limit
Mon Oct 10, 2016, 12:11 PM
Oct 2016

Same for the Senate.

And the limit should be reciprocal between both chambers; you can serve a total of two terms in the House or the Senate, or else one term in each.

MANative

(4,112 posts)
3. I might support it IF they were also term-limited to two terms...
Mon Oct 10, 2016, 12:12 PM
Oct 2016

just like the President. But I'd also want to see two-year staggered elections to maintain some continuity and institutional knowledge.

neeksgeek

(1,214 posts)
5. I would support an amendment adding term limits...
Mon Oct 10, 2016, 12:19 PM
Oct 2016

Two terms maximum, for both representatives and senators. But the terms should stay two and six years, respectively. I would not support any change of the term length.

meow2u3

(24,764 posts)
14. I say term limits of 12 years total
Mon Oct 10, 2016, 12:50 PM
Oct 2016

6 terms for House members and 2 terms for Senators.

I also would propose term limits of 20 years for Supreme Court Justices, as well as lower court judges, to prevent their authority from going to their heads.

 

Fluke a Snooker

(404 posts)
8. Only when progressives hold a substantial majority
Mon Oct 10, 2016, 12:27 PM
Oct 2016

Too many entrenched Tea Party types to worry about. Frankly, I would be more interested in upping representation of the Senate to more people, or eliminating it altogether and creating a unicameral legislature that listens to the PEOPLE, not the monied interests of the STATE, and making sure that Congress has more progressives.

Algernon Moncrieff

(5,790 posts)
17. First, welcome to DU
Mon Oct 10, 2016, 01:03 PM
Oct 2016

Second, Bob Kerry threw out an interesting idea in his failed attempt at the Senate. He proposed making the Senate non-partisan. I'm not certain how much difference it would make, but the theory makes sense.

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)
9. Yes, in conjunction with a requirement for nonpartisan Boundary Commissions,
Mon Oct 10, 2016, 12:28 PM
Oct 2016

which would set all district boundaries without reference to any partisan considerations, to put an end to gerrymandering.

ProudToBeBlueInRhody

(16,399 posts)
10. I support 4 year Rep terms
Mon Oct 10, 2016, 12:28 PM
Oct 2016

Lets just make them all during Presidential years, if you catch my drift.

I seriously think you can't get anything done in 2 years, well, except DESTROY the nation as Republicans do.

CBGLuthier

(12,723 posts)
16. Nope and no damned term limits either. If Americans won't take responsibility for elections
Mon Oct 10, 2016, 01:00 PM
Oct 2016

then they deserve the results. I also believe in the repeal of the presidential term limit, too.

ChairmanAgnostic

(28,017 posts)
19. I would support an amendment that increased the size of the house
Mon Oct 10, 2016, 01:04 PM
Oct 2016

Doubling it in size.

435 people, actually less since TeaBaggers are neither human nor do they take their legislative duties seriously, are too few to adequately represent their constituents. 320,000,000 could never have actual representation from a mere 300+ people. Having so few reps actually increases the power of lobbyists, distances pols from people, and makes washington seem alien to those of us outside the beltway.

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