Term Limits
The twenty-second Amendment to the Unites States Constitution sets forth that the President of the United States shall serve no more than two terms. Congress passed the amendment on 21 March 1947 and the requisite number of states ratified it on 27 February 1951.
Interestingly enough, Thomas Jefferson supported presidential term limits and the actions of Washington and Jefferson provided a de facto rule for presidents up until Franklin D Roosevelt (Ulysses S Grant was the first president to seek a third term).
The precept of why we limit presidents to two terms is to prevent a virtual monarchy from arising.
Why then do we not limit the terms for all our public officials?
I propose that the way to fix many of the problems with this country is to immediately pass an amendment that provides that no public official shall serve more than two terms in any given office.
That prevents any official from establishing a dynasty and greatly reduces the potential power that a politician can amass.
If you’re worried about public officials having to find another job – stop and consider how many years of service they can provide from serving in their city, county, state, and federal governments in so many elected offices — a lifetime of service to the public without the temptation of serving themselves.
Of course, why would Congress want to play on a level field by limiting their term — I mean, look at the health care and retirement systems they gave themselves compared to what they feel every other American deserves.
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