Overall priorities for this Congress remain unclear. Even political scientists and other Congressional experts are hesitant to make definitive predictions. Both major parties preach harmony, but inquiries into the president's campaign fund raising and the controversies surrounding the speaker of the House of Representatives have resulted in acrimony that spills into other issues. While both sides appear to be groping for an agenda, certain issues have emerged as objects of interest. Liberals, conservatives, the White House, and members of both parties embrace the principle but differ on the mode of accomplishment.
Republican leaders favor a constitutional amendment to ensure enforcement.
The president and many Democrats wish to exempt Social Security from the provision of a balanced budget and are in lockstep opposition to a constitutional amendment. Term limits for members of Congress is another hot-button issue. Candidates for Congress will often make term limits the theme of their campaign. The US Supreme Court has ruled that states cannot impose their own term limits. Therefore, current legislative proposals being debated in Congress call for a constitutional amendment limiting terms in both the House and Senate to 12 years.