David McCormick aims to impose term limits on Congress

In an effort to address concerns about career politicians in the United States Congress, freshman Senator David McCormick introduced a joint resolution in January 2023. This proposal seeks to limit U.S. senators to two six-year terms and House representatives to six two-year terms. McCormick emphasizes that the current Congressional structure hinders younger individuals from gaining leadership positions, contributing to a lack of generational diversity. He challenges the notion that decades of senatorial service are necessary for effective governance, stating that such a system is fundamentally flawed. The initiative aligns with a broader national sentiment, as a 2023 Pew Research Center survey indicated that 87% of Americans support term limits for Congress. McCormick and Pennsylvania Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, who co-sponsored the resolution, believe that imposing term limits will rejuvenate Congress and allow fresh ideas to circulate more freely within the legislative process, combating the entrenched interests associated with long-term incumbency. Critics of the status quo argue that many current members of Congress, such as Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell, have overstayed their welcome, creating barriers for new leaders. This ongoing trend has been detrimental, according to advocates like former Representative Dean Phillips, who warns that a lack of turnover in Congress undermines democratic participation among younger citizens. McCormick's advocates believe their resolution could lead to a paradigm shift in how Congress operates, reinvigorating public confidence in government institutions that have been perceived as stagnant. The process for McCormick’s resolution to potentially become a constitutional amendment is complex. Achieving passage requires two-thirds approval in both chambers of Congress, followed by ratification from three-fourths of the state legislatures. With bipartisan support reported nationally, McCormick is hopeful that reforming term limits could spark broader discussions about governance and representation in Washington, D.C.