Minimalist Rocking chair by Montis
10 years ago
Showing posts with label term limits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label term limits. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Monday, February 15, 2010
So You Want to Take Your Country Back!
Part Two: Term Limits
For years, many American citizens have become angry at the members of congress and senators who have been in congress for 30 to 40 years, who have developed loyal backers who keep them there election after election. These backers represent special interests, many which many or most citizens do not support.
Historically, term limits have figured most prominently in the executive branch of the U.S. government. While the Constitution did not originally mandate limits for the office of the presidency, George Washington, the first president (1789-1797), started the tradition of self-imposed limits by serving only two terms.[1] The precedent was followed for 144 years, until President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ran for and won a third term in 1940 (he would eventually win a fourth).[2] In 1951, Congress passed and 41 states ratified the Twenty-Second Amendment, which forbade any citizen from being elected president more than twice (or once if he/she had previously served more than 2 years of another presidential term).[3]
1. ? Martin Kelly. "George Washington - First President of the United States," About.com.
2. Franklin D. Roosevelt. Source.
3. ? "U.S. Constitution," FindLaw.
Source.
Many members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, have been in congress over many presidential administrations. Some have built dynasties such at the Adams, Tafts, Roosevelts, Kennedys, Byrds, Dodds, Pryors, Bayhs, Bennetts, Bushes, and others. Some ascended to the ‘throne’ years after their fathers departed. Others immediately.
Senators and members of congress gain too much power and influence as their years of service add up. Special interest groups attach themselves to various ones and support them with political donations during local elections. We the taxpayers pay for their ‘earmarks, support of groups such as Planned Parenthood, Acorn, the unions, Gay and Lesbian groups, and favors to industries in their own states.
The Constitution did not specify term limits for publically elected officials. This was debated when the document was being debated. However, no limits were mandated. The Constitution does specify that senators would be selected by their respective state legislatures for six years, changed by the Seventeenth Amendment, which I will cover in the next part of this series. Members of congress would serve two years and would have to run for re-election every two years.
In the elections of 1994, part of the Republican platform was to pass legislation setting term limits in Congress. After winning the majority, they brought a constitutional amendment to the House floor.
It limited members of the Senate to two six-year terms and members of the House to six two-year terms. Because the Republicans held 230 seats in the House, they were able to get a simple majority. However, constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority, or 290 votes, and the votes to restrict term limits in Congress fell short of that number. Source.
The above suggestions would limit all members of congress to 12 years service. This is enough for each house of congress to recognize those they want to elect to committee chair positions, but will limit influence in supporting special interests. As it is difficult, at the wikipedia article states, it to get enough votes to pass a term limits amendment to the constitution. The solution is to hold our candidates to national public office to promise to work toward developing and passing such an amendment.
The next step is up to us between now and November 2010.
For years, many American citizens have become angry at the members of congress and senators who have been in congress for 30 to 40 years, who have developed loyal backers who keep them there election after election. These backers represent special interests, many which many or most citizens do not support.
Historically, term limits have figured most prominently in the executive branch of the U.S. government. While the Constitution did not originally mandate limits for the office of the presidency, George Washington, the first president (1789-1797), started the tradition of self-imposed limits by serving only two terms.[1] The precedent was followed for 144 years, until President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ran for and won a third term in 1940 (he would eventually win a fourth).[2] In 1951, Congress passed and 41 states ratified the Twenty-Second Amendment, which forbade any citizen from being elected president more than twice (or once if he/she had previously served more than 2 years of another presidential term).[3]
1. ? Martin Kelly. "George Washington - First President of the United States," About.com.
2. Franklin D. Roosevelt. Source.
3. ? "U.S. Constitution," FindLaw.
Source.
Many members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, have been in congress over many presidential administrations. Some have built dynasties such at the Adams, Tafts, Roosevelts, Kennedys, Byrds, Dodds, Pryors, Bayhs, Bennetts, Bushes, and others. Some ascended to the ‘throne’ years after their fathers departed. Others immediately.
Senators and members of congress gain too much power and influence as their years of service add up. Special interest groups attach themselves to various ones and support them with political donations during local elections. We the taxpayers pay for their ‘earmarks, support of groups such as Planned Parenthood, Acorn, the unions, Gay and Lesbian groups, and favors to industries in their own states.
The Constitution did not specify term limits for publically elected officials. This was debated when the document was being debated. However, no limits were mandated. The Constitution does specify that senators would be selected by their respective state legislatures for six years, changed by the Seventeenth Amendment, which I will cover in the next part of this series. Members of congress would serve two years and would have to run for re-election every two years.
In the elections of 1994, part of the Republican platform was to pass legislation setting term limits in Congress. After winning the majority, they brought a constitutional amendment to the House floor.
It limited members of the Senate to two six-year terms and members of the House to six two-year terms. Because the Republicans held 230 seats in the House, they were able to get a simple majority. However, constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority, or 290 votes, and the votes to restrict term limits in Congress fell short of that number. Source.
The above suggestions would limit all members of congress to 12 years service. This is enough for each house of congress to recognize those they want to elect to committee chair positions, but will limit influence in supporting special interests. As it is difficult, at the wikipedia article states, it to get enough votes to pass a term limits amendment to the constitution. The solution is to hold our candidates to national public office to promise to work toward developing and passing such an amendment.
The next step is up to us between now and November 2010.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
The Seventeenth Amendment: Death blow to State's Rights
The Seventeenth Amendment allows the Democrats in the Senate To Jam The Health Care Bill Down The Throats of The States
The Seventeenth Amendment ratification was a deadly blow to States’ Rights, and Federalism. Article 1 of the Constitution originally stated that, “The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote.” In their wisdom, the founders of the Constitution in order to preserve the sovereignty of the several states, gave each state senator, selected by the legislatures of said states, one vote. Senators voting against the interests of their states could be recalled and replaced.
The Seventeenth Amendment changed that, giving the vote to the people, who were already represented by the House of Representatives. The amendment was passed by the senate June 12, 1911, and by the House of Representatives May 13, 1912. It was ratified by the states on April 8, 1913. The amendment supersedes Article I, & 3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, transferring Senator selection from each state's legislature to popular election by the people of each state. This was a subterfuge sneaked into the constitution by progressives who were stymied by the senators previously voting for the interests of their respective states.
Now, to bring this all to the present in the Senate. If the original provision for selecting senators was still in effect, the states could have immediate input and influence in the health care bill, or could kill it completely. They could recall and replace senators who are pushing laws, which are not supported by the states.
In the primaries and general election in November 2010, we must select senators and members of the House of Representives who will repeal the Seventeenth Amendment, and vote for term limits. These two provisions alone will eliminate the senatorial dynasties which have done nothing but to serve the special interests, which contribute to those senators favoring them in earmarks and passing pork barrel legislation.
BILOXI, Miss. - The nation’s governors, Democrats as well as Republicans, voiced deep concern yesterday about the shape of the healthcare bill emerging from Congress, fearing that the federal government is about to hand them expensive new Medicaid obligations without providing the money to pay for them. The Boston.Com.
The Seventeenth Amendment (Amendment XVII) to the United States Constitution was passed by the Senate on June 12, 1911, the House of Representatives on May 13, 1912, and ratified by the states on April 8, 1913. The amendment supersedes Article I, § 3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution,... Wikipedia.
The Seventeenth Amendment ratification was a deadly blow to States’ Rights, and Federalism. Article 1 of the Constitution originally stated that, “The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote.” In their wisdom, the founders of the Constitution in order to preserve the sovereignty of the several states, gave each state senator, selected by the legislatures of said states, one vote. Senators voting against the interests of their states could be recalled and replaced.
The Seventeenth Amendment changed that, giving the vote to the people, who were already represented by the House of Representatives. The amendment was passed by the senate June 12, 1911, and by the House of Representatives May 13, 1912. It was ratified by the states on April 8, 1913. The amendment supersedes Article I, & 3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, transferring Senator selection from each state's legislature to popular election by the people of each state. This was a subterfuge sneaked into the constitution by progressives who were stymied by the senators previously voting for the interests of their respective states.
Now, to bring this all to the present in the Senate. If the original provision for selecting senators was still in effect, the states could have immediate input and influence in the health care bill, or could kill it completely. They could recall and replace senators who are pushing laws, which are not supported by the states.
In the primaries and general election in November 2010, we must select senators and members of the House of Representives who will repeal the Seventeenth Amendment, and vote for term limits. These two provisions alone will eliminate the senatorial dynasties which have done nothing but to serve the special interests, which contribute to those senators favoring them in earmarks and passing pork barrel legislation.
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