Dr. Michael Katz is the Delaware chair for the group U.S. Term Limits, as well as a former state senator.
Until Franklin Roosevelt, no president had served more than two elected terms in office. It was a tradition established by George Washington. Two presidents prior to FDR had sought to do so — Ulysses S. Grant and Woodrow Wilson — and had failed in even securing their party’s nomination. Roosevelt, citing his importance in World War II, ran for an unprecedented third term and then a fourth term, even though he was ill (he died 82 days into his fourth term).
After his presidency, there were widespread calls to establish a constitutional amendment to set term limits for the president. Roosevelt’s successor, Harry Truman, was an advocate of term limits for both the presidency and Congress. When Congress appeared reluctant to pass an amendment setting terms for the presidency, the states started to act, by calling for a constitutional amendment. As the states were nearing the two-thirds majority needed to force Congress to act, Congress decided it was in its best interest to address the issue. This was the genesis of the 22nd Amendment, which was ratified Feb. 27, 1951.
Harry Truman, who was president when the 22nd Amendment was ratified, was grandfathered in, so the amendment did not affect him. However, Truman believed that two terms were enough for any occupant in the White House. Believing that — since he had served all but 82 days of Roosevelt’s fourth term, plus one full term — he had served two terms, he opted not to run again in 1952. Truman hoped that Congress would further act on term limits for itself after the 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951, but it has failed to do so.
We celebrate Feb. 27 as National Term Limits Day. We do this to raise awareness of today’s most popular and bipartisan issue — congressional term limits. An RMG Research poll showed that 81% of Americans, regardless of political affiliation, support these limits.
With over 151 members who have pledged to support congressional term limits now serving in Congress, we are seeing movement to pass them. In the House of Representatives, House Joint Resolution 12, sponsored by Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., has more than 50 co-sponsors listed. Once passed by Congress and ratified by the states, it would limit representatives to three terms, or six years, and senators to two terms, or 12 years. In the Senate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, filed Senate Joint Resolution 1, a companion resolution to HJR 12, with 15 co-sponsors. But Congress will probably will never pass this legislation? Right?
So, if Congress won’t pass term limits, what can be done? Just as with the debate over presidential terms, the states can take the initiative, calling for a convention to adopt a congressional term limits amendment. When enough states do so, Congress is bypassed, and the amendment can be proposed by the states for ratification. Or Congress might see what is happening and act, as it did with the 22nd Amendment.
A growing roster of states has called for a limited convention to propose a congressional term limits amendment to the Constitution. Delaware could join this roster. Polling by RMG Research in the First State shows that 81% of voters, regardless of political affiliation, support these limits. Our state legislature must move forward in passing a resolution for such an amendment.
This National Term Limits Day, events will be held throughout the nation to bring attention to the need for them. If term limits are good enough for the president, why not for Congress?
Happy Term Limits Day and let’s finish the job and get term limits for Congress.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
