George Washington could have held onto power for the rest of his life. Instead, he decided to forgo a third term in the presidency and return to his beloved Mt. Vernon.
Washington’s two-term precedent held for almost 150 years and is now enshrined in the Constitution. Throughout our nation’s history, Congress has largely ignored his example, and especially in recent years, the legislative branch’s productivity and Americans have suffered as a result.
Aging in office
Some facts: More than one-third of senators in the 118th Congress were 70 or older. The 119th Congress is the third oldest in history. The average senator is nearly 64 years old, the age when many Americans are staring down retirement. That’s 11 years older than the average senator in 1981. Similarly, House members are nearly nine years older on average than they were in 1981.
Elected office has become an increasingly popular permanent career choice rather than a temporary service. As of this year, members of the House and Senate have an average of 8.6 and 11.2 years of prior service in their respective chambers. This represents a steady increase from the early 20th century when that number fell below six years for both the House and Senate.
It’s even harder to believe that there were periods in American history where Congress saw more than 50% turnover in a given election cycle. In 2021, less than 15% of members of Congress decided to forgo reelection.
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Chart 1: Average years of prior service for representatives and senators in their respective chambers (Congressional Research Service)
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Chart 2: Percentage of members of Congress who chose not to seek reelection (Congressional Research Service)
An older and more experienced Congress has not translated to a more productive Congress. Congress is passing barely half as many laws each year as it did during the 1980s.
Turning Congress around starts with term limits. The Founders never imagined it would become an institution filled with politicians who make it a lifetime career. Don’t get me wrong, I genuinely like my colleagues in the Senate, and I hope that they don’t revoke my Senate gym membership. I’m grateful for their continued willingness to serve our nation, but this is about the long-term health and vitality of our democracy.
I have vowed to serve no more than two terms in the Senate. When I’m done, someone else will have the privilege. That’s how it should work.
Quick success
We know from high performing professionals across industries that great things can be achieved in a relatively short period of time.
When I made my two-term pledge, someone told me that around the 12-year mark is when I would finally start to gain seniority and be effective. What does it say about Congress that it takes a dozen years to build the credibility you need to get anything done?
The common arguments against congressional term limits are twofold. Some claim elections serve as term limits. Others say less experienced members would put more power in the hands of the executive branch and lobbyists.
The power of incumbency belies the first argument. A small percentage of House seats are decided in competitive general elections, and members are largely incentivized to protect themselves from primary challenges.
The same principle holds true in the Senate. My fellow Pennsylvanian senator John Fetterman and I represent one of only three delegations with senators from different parties. This creates a dynamic with little motivation to work across the aisle or develop forward-looking solutions to address our nation’s most serious challenges.
Unlike much of the narrative surrounding Washington, Sen. Fetterman and I are off to a good start in our working relationship. While we disagree on a lot, where we have common ground, we’re committed to working together for the betterment of Pennsylvania and the nation.
On the second point, Congress has already ceded much of its authority to the executive branch in recent decades. Career politicians have failed to safeguard many key responsibilities enshrined to Congress by the Constitution. Congressional term limits have the potential to bring a renewed commitment to preserving the institution rather than approval ratings and reelection bids.