Power is too easily abused, especially when the general population is distracted, busy trying to live their own lives. Not only do we not want kings, but we don’t want dukes, barons, queens, duchesses, or baronesses or any other life-long rulers.

The Term Limits Amendment

No person may be elected, appointed, or otherwise obtain the office of President after having served 8 years in that office (or 6 years if 3 co-presidents were implemented), sequentially or not.

No person may be elected, appointed, or otherwise obtain the office of Vice-President after having served 8 years in the office of Vice-President (or 2 years if 3 co-presidents were implemented), sequentially or not. If the Vice-President becomes President, then the new Vice President shall follow the line of succession as described in Constitution for Presidential succession.

No person may hold any office of Representative after having held any offices of Representative for a total of 12 years, sequentially or not.

No person may hold any office of Senator after having held any offices of Senator for a total of 12 years, sequentially or not.

The Supreme Court Justice having served the most annual sessions and having served 18 or more annual sessions shall retire from the Court at the end of the annual session in an odd-numbered year. The replacement Justice shall be selected and approved in the year preceding a Justice’s scheduled retirement, or immediately upon early retirement or death of a Justice. Selecting and approving replacement Justices may not be delayed for any political reason, but must proceed immediately and with all reasonable speed.

Just as the Presidency was limited to no more than two terms after FDR was elected for four terms, the other major elected office holders in our government should likewise be limited from holding office “for life.” What’s good for the goose and all that. Just as we need to protect our selves and our society from “over-enthusiastic” elected officials, we also need to protect ourselves from OURSELVES. Too many voters continue to vote for the same person, election after election. “They’re OUR person, and they’re GREAT! It’s all those HORRIBLE people the OTHER states keep re-electing that are the problem!”

Good government that is responsive to the changing needs and desires of society requires fresh blood (so to speak) on the floors and seats of our government. And no moving from district to district, state to state, to avoid the term limits issue. You get your one time-limited shot at power, and then you’re out of there.

-Everett