Public support for term limits has been fueled by deep concerns about whether Members of Congress are truly accountable to their constituents. The image of entrenched incumbents and monied special interests taking care of each other at the expense of the average citizen has contributed greatly to the movement for term limits. While Common Cause shares a number of the concerns about the political system that have been raised by supporters of term limits, we strongly oppose this remedy. Instead, we believe campaign finance reform will more effectively address the problems raised by term limits advocates without the negative consequences of term limits. Term Limits Are Undemocratic Term limits for Members of Congress are an undemocratic response to a very serious problem.
Term limits impose an arbitrary restriction on the right to vote.
They deny some citizens the ability to run for office and other citizens the ability to vote for the individual they believe will best represent their interests in the Congress. Citizens should have the opportunity to vote for whomever they believe will best serve them in Congress, even longtime incumbents. We recognize that it would not be beneficial to have a Congress made up entirely of individuals who have held office for long periods of time. Change, and the opportunity for change, is important to the health and vitality of our political system. In any event, it is neither healthy nor wise for our political system to have a House of Representatives that by definition cannot have any Member with more than 12 consecutive years of service, or only six consecutive years, as some have proposed.