It’s Time for Term Limits: Why Congress Needs Fresh Faces to Save Democracy

Congress is too entrenched. The same people have been in Congress for decades, and it shows. The longer they stay, the more insulated they become from the real problems Americans face every day. Nothing ever changes. Nothing ever gets done.

All of these issues—and more—could be addressed if Congress, or the states, passed an amendment to the Constitution establishing term limits for Senators and Members of the House of Representatives.

Why Term Limits Matter

When members of Congress treat their positions as lifetime careers instead of temporary service, the system stops working for the people. Instead of thinking about bold reforms or long-term consequences, entrenched politicians often focus on short-term political gains and re-election strategies.

With term limits, we would see a steady rotation of fresh voices and new ideas. Legislators would know they only have a limited time to make a difference, encouraging them to act decisively and think about the legacy they’ll leave behind—not the next campaign.

This was closer to what the Founding Fathers envisioned. The original idea was for citizens to serve, contribute their perspectives, and then return to private life—not to spend 40 years in Washington insulated by power and donor money.

Why It Hasn’t Happened Yet

Of course, there’s a major roadblock: Congress is not going to limit its own power. Expecting lifelong politicians to vote for term limits is like asking them to fire themselves.

So how could term limits realistically happen?

The answer lies in something the Constitution already provides for—an Article V Convention.

Under Article V, there are two ways to propose amendments to the Constitution:

1. Congress can propose an amendment, or
2. The states can call for a convention to propose amendments. [1]

If two-thirds (34) of the state legislatures request a convention, Congress must call it. Then, any amendments proposed by that convention would still need to be ratified by three-fourths (38) of the states to become law. [2]

This process has never been successfully used in U.S. history. Why? Because every time the number of states calling for a convention has approached the required threshold, Congress has stepped in and often proposed its own version of the amendment to avoid losing control of the process. [3]

Could It Happen Today?

The modern movement for term limits has been gaining renewed attention in recent years. Organizations like U.S. Term Limits are working to build support among state legislatures to call for an Article V convention. [4]

Public opinion is also overwhelmingly in favor of the idea. For example:

• A Pew Research Center report found that 90% of Republicans/Republican-leaning independents and 86% of Democrats/Democratic-leaners favor term limits for members of Congress. [5]
• A U.S. Term Limits poll in January 2025 found that 83% of Americans—79% of Democrats, 85% of Republicans, and 85% of Independents—support congressional term limits. [6]
• Another study from University of Maryland’s Program for Public Consultation found five-in-six Americans (around 83%) support a constitutional amendment imposing term limits on Congress. [7]

Still, getting 34 state legislatures to agree on the same language for a convention call remains a huge challenge—and even if a convention were called, there’s uncertainty about how it would operate, which makes many lawmakers nervous. [8]

What Would Be a Fair Limit?

If we ever did get term limits, what should they look like? Personally, I think a reasonable cap would be three terms in the Senate (18 years total) and five terms in the House (10 years total). That’s long enough to gain experience, build coalitions, and make meaningful change—but not long enough to become disconnected from the people you represent.

Others might argue for shorter or longer limits, and that’s a conversation worth having.

The Bottom Line

Our democracy depends on new ideas and the continual renewal of leadership. When power becomes permanent, corruption and complacency follow. The founders never intended for Congress to be a lifelong job—it was meant to be a public service.

If Congress won’t act, it may be time for the states—and the people—to take matters into their own hands.

What do you think? Should members of Congress face term limits? And if so, how long should they be allowed to serve? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Further Reading

1. National Constitution Center – Article V of the U.S. Constitution
2. National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) – Amending the U.S. Constitution
3. National Constitution Center – Why Term Limits for Congress Face a Challenging Constitutional Path
4. Ballotpedia – U.S. Term Limits
5. Pew Research Center (2023) – How Americans View Proposals to Change the Political System
6. U.S. Term Limits Poll (2025) – 83% of Americans Support Term Limits for Congress
7. Program for Public Consultation, University of Maryland (2023) – Americans Strongly Support Congressional Term Limits
8. Common Cause – Stopping a Dangerous Article V Convention