The promises and possibilities of reelection dictate the behavior of members of congress. Unlike the President of the United States, members of Congress are not restrained by a term limit, and, consequently, spend their careers focused wooing their constituency in a constant effort towards reelection. As a result, David Mayhew in Congress: The Electoral Connection has labeled congressional members as single-minded: the motivation for a member of congress being the ultimate prize of reelection. Yet, a hypothetical congressional term limit would undoubtedly alter the behavior of congressional members. By first comparing legislators’ behavior before and after the establishment of a congressional term limit, it becomes evident that such a change
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Due to the political ignorance of the average American, members of Congress have little opportunity to stray away from the strict interests of their constituencies (Converse 9). Rather, members of Congress must clearly align with their constituents in order to demonstrate their legitimacy as a legislator. Subsequently congressional members “constantly adjust their decisions in Washington to satisfy their constituents back home” (Arnold 7). Therefore, legislators’ policy positions matter. However, strictly looking at the potential change in policies pursued, the possibility for greater, more far-reaching legislation is conceivable. Under the protection of a term limit, legislators would be at increased liberty to pursue policies that as a political sophisticate would seem appropriate for their constituents, no matter the unpopularity of the policy. Therefore, congressional term limits, particularly in the final congressional term, would provide members of Congress greater autonomy in their chosen policies given the fact that congressional members would focus less on …show more content…
The president’s power is complex and motivated by “enacting good public policy, undoing the work of their predecessors, responding to a perceived public mandate, and securing their place in history” (Howell 13). Conversely, members of Congress are tied to their constituencies and must earn reelection through their policy positions (Arnold 18). The president has greater sovereignty over their chosen policies. As such, it is reasonable to conclude that a congressional term limit would offer similar freedom to members of Congress. Furthermore, congressional members would be able to focus their legacy on creating more impactful policy changes, no matter the interests of their constituency. Since the legislative and the executive branch must work together to initiate and enforce legislation, the president’s power would be subsequently weakened. Members of Congress would become more aggressive as they seek to establish a legacy, and, thus, would be more active in policy changes, negotiations, and more aggressive in wanting to leave a
Due to the political ignorance of the average American, members of Congress have little opportunity to stray away from the strict interests of their constituencies (Converse 9). Rather, members of Congress must clearly align with their constituents in order to demonstrate their legitimacy as a legislator. Subsequently congressional members “constantly adjust their decisions in Washington to satisfy their constituents back home” (Arnold 7). Therefore, legislators’ policy positions matter. However, strictly looking at the potential change in policies pursued, the possibility for greater, more far-reaching legislation is conceivable. Under the protection of a term limit, legislators would be at increased liberty to pursue policies that as a political sophisticate would seem appropriate for their constituents, no matter the unpopularity of the policy. Therefore, congressional term limits, particularly in the final congressional term, would provide members of Congress greater autonomy in their chosen policies given the fact that congressional members would focus less on …show more content…
The president’s power is complex and motivated by “enacting good public policy, undoing the work of their predecessors, responding to a perceived public mandate, and securing their place in history” (Howell 13). Conversely, members of Congress are tied to their constituencies and must earn reelection through their policy positions (Arnold 18). The president has greater sovereignty over their chosen policies. As such, it is reasonable to conclude that a congressional term limit would offer similar freedom to members of Congress. Furthermore, congressional members would be able to focus their legacy on creating more impactful policy changes, no matter the interests of their constituency. Since the legislative and the executive branch must work together to initiate and enforce legislation, the president’s power would be subsequently weakened. Members of Congress would become more aggressive as they seek to establish a legacy, and, thus, would be more active in policy changes, negotiations, and more aggressive in wanting to leave a