Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumI'm not a Constitutional scholar, and apparently Tom Steyer isn't either
One of his commercials is about TERM LIMITS, like it's some new idea. Of course, terms for members of Congress and the President are established in the Constitution and changing the would require a Constitutional Amendment, which starts where? IN CONGRESS! I hope he brings it up in the debate tonight so someone can educate him.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
pwb
(11,287 posts)And congress ? The constitution limits the president to two terms others only need reelection every two and four years.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
marybourg
(12,633 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
pwb
(11,287 posts).
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
marybourg
(12,633 posts)Only voters can do that.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,806 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TexasBushwhacker
(20,209 posts)After FDR dropped dead at the beginning of his 4th term, the 22nd Amendment was passed limiting the President to being elected only twice.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(145,481 posts)You will need a constitutional amendment
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Otto Lidenbrock
(581 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,806 posts)Term limits on members of Congress can't be imposed without a Constitutional amendment. I'd also note that term limits are a favorite notion of the conservative Heritage Foundation and the National Review and the libertarian Cato Institute. The liberal Brookings Institute argues against them: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2018/01/18/five-reasons-to-oppose-congressional-term-limits/
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
mopinko
(70,179 posts)who wants to add to the list?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TomSlick
(11,107 posts)Term limits would not only require a constitutional amendment, they would be bad policy. The purpose of term limits is to limit for whom people can vote. If a voter is pleased with the work of their elected representative, they ought to be allowed to vote for that representative's re-election. Does Steyer really think the country would be better off if Steny Hoyer and Jim Clyburn were not in the House of Representatives?
We have tried term limits. Term limits at the state level have resulted in the increase of the power of lobbyist. By the time a state legislator or governor learns the job, s/he term limited out of office. Short-term elected officials either must rely on the advice of lobbyist and are easily bamboozled by them. On the federal level, as a result of Twenty-Second Amendment, instead of a third term for President Obama, we got Trump. The track record for the idea of term limits isn't good.
Promoting term limits causes me to question Steyer's understand of the issue and his judgment.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,806 posts)See https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2018/01/18/five-reasons-to-oppose-congressional-term-limits/
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TomSlick
(11,107 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden