Cause and Effect?

This illustrates the fallacy of lobbyists and a full-time legislature. I say kick all the lobbyists out of the system and allow the Congress to meet for two weeks each year. That would give them less time to create michief.

This illustrates the fallacy of lobbyists and a full-time legislature. I say kick all the lobbyists out of the system and allow the Congress to meet for two weeks each year. That would give them less time to create michief.

On the whole, not a bad idea. Many state legislatures operate on a once yearly basis. I want to know how we instigate "term limits". If we could do it for the Presidency why can't we somehow accomplish it for Congress? A word about lobbyists. They have their place if you can sift out the useful information they supply from the crap they also offer to justify gettin what they are after.

On the whole, not a bad idea. Many state legislatures operate on a once yearly basis. I want to know how we instigate "term limits". If we could do it for the Presidency why can't we somehow accomplish it for Congress? A word about lobbyists. They have their place if you can sift out the useful information they supply from the crap they also offer to justify gettin what they are after.

Remember that it was a constitutional amendment that limited the presidents term. I'm not sure if it would take a constitutional amendment to change term limits for congress, but I'm pretty sure. Either way it would take congress to initiate it and I don't see that happening. They've never turned down a pay raise. ;-)

Here is what the Constitution says about when the Congress should meet:

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

If only the phrase "at least" had been omitted.

Remember that it was a constitutional amendment that limited the presidents term. I'm not sure if it would take a constitutional amendment to change term limits for congress, but I'm pretty sure. Either way it would take congress to initiate it and I don't see that happening. They've never turned down a pay raise. ;-)

Governors can do it, or states can anyway I think.

Governors can do it, or states can anyway I think.

I believe the only way to propose an amendment without Congress is through a national convention. The framers specifically provided an out for this since they were paranoid of an oppressive or unresponsive congress.

edit - yep -

[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_Five_of_the_United_States_Constitution[/ame]
[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_to_propose_amendments_to_the_United_States_Constitution[/ame]

Remember that it was a constitutional amendment that limited the presidents term. I'm not sure if it would take a constitutional amendment to change term limits for congress, but I'm pretty sure. Either way it would take congress to initiate it and I don't see that happening. They've never turned down a pay raise. ;-)

I totally agree, although I had forgotten it was a Constitutional Amendment that created Presidential term limits. Though, as I said, I agree with what you say, I wonder if the possibility of a Constitutional Amendment to create Congressional term limits could ever be a possiblity. It sure would be nice and strongly supported, I believe. But then considering all the pork legistators bring their constituents, maybe not.

Term limits have been a rallying cry for some time. States can do it but it is political suicide to limit your state's representatives while the other states gain seniority (and commitee chairmanships) without term limits. Congress is run on a very oppressive seniority system. Sen Byrd from WVA has drained the system for as long as I have been alive and I am no spring chicken. His abuses are onerous. There should be a 12 year limit to service in either house.

The longer your serve in Washington the more favors you owe to.