Letter to the Editor/Op Ed: Term limits still needed for Congress

 

Written by: John Warren, Chair, US Term Limits
April 7, 2025

Career politicians. We hear the term every election cycle over and over – in our mailboxes, on our televisions, and on our phones.

 Candidates running for office have a good reason for repeating the phrase when describing their opponents who have served in elected offices for years: voters are sick and tired of career politicians. You know the types: they run for state Senate, then Congress, and on it goes. The cycle never ends and they fail to deliver for the American people.

And the best example of failure is the group of politicians sitting in Congress. Year after year, no matter which party is in charge, Congress fails to pass a budget, fails to cut spending, fails to invest in real national defense, fails to counter the threat of China. Congress simply fails to work for the American people.

 It’s no surprise that the president is left with no choice but to take action by executive order – even congressional leaders of the president’s party can’t seem to actually cut wasteful spending. In fact, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has been the sponsor of many of the very projects that have sent our nation spiraling into devastating national debt. Gender programs in Pakistan? Lindsey Graham made sure that was in the budget. It’s irresponsible and breaches a fiduciary responsibility to American taxpayers.

 That’s why now, more than ever, we need congressional term limits.

 February 2025 commemorated the 74th anniversary of the adoption of the 22nd Amendment that limited a president to two terms in office. George Washington set the standard that a president served no more than two terms. Although several presidents had attempted to seek a third term, none succeeded until Franklin Roosevelt in 1940, as the nation confronted the possibility of entering World War II.

 But it wasn’t until 1947 that Congress passed the legislation that would create the 22nd Amendment and the state ratification process began. South Carolina was the 38th state to ratify the Amendment on March 13, 1951.

 The anniversary of this amendment highlights the importance of today’s most popular and bipartisan issue – congressional term limits. A recent RMG Research poll showed 83% of Americans regardless of political affiliation support congressional term limits. That is a remarkable show of support that members of Congress would do well to recognize.

 With more than 151 members who have pledged to support congressional term limits now serving in Congress, we are seeing movement to pass congressional term limits. 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.

 Because politicians in Congress are unlikely to limit themselves, it’s time for states to take action by calling for a convention to adopt a congressional term limits amendment. When enough states request a convention to add a congressional term limits amendment to the constitution, Congress is bypassed and the amendment can be proposed by the states for ratification. The convention would be strictly limited to imposing term limits on Congress.

 A growing roster of states has called for a limited convention to propose a congressional term limits amendment to the constitution. In South Carolina, House Joint Resolution 3008 calls for a congressional term limits amendment. It is essential the Palmetto State pass this resolution and go on record for congressional term limits.

 Term limits represent an opportunity for the people to retake control of Congress, kick out the special interests, and force the career politicians to job outside of government. The people deserve real representation in Congress, not more of the same.

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About the Author:

Greenville businessman John Warren is the state chair for U.S. Term Limits and is a former republican candidate for South Carolina Governor.

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