Federalist Papers Argues on Term Limits For Senators

Federalist Papers Argues on Term Limits For SenatorsFederalist Papers Argues on Term Limits For Senators was the title of a series of essays that appeared in the Federalist Papers Volume Seven. The idea behind these essays was to examine the two opposite sides of the term limits for senators. Each side made its case, and the Federalist Papers argued on the side of each one.The term limit argument against senators involved the argument that by limiting senators to terms of eight years, the length of their service would create an endless cycle of office-holders. The argument that members serve too long had the support of Alexander Hamilton who wrote in Federalist Number 11:That this power is of so much importance, has been shewn by experience, in several of the States, where their legislatures have vested the appointment of the executive magistrate with the executive department, as if it depended on the legislature, not on the people. In some of these, the appointment has continued so long, that the Legislature, which is now about to fill up the vacancy, will have no other choice but to exert the violence of the legislative authority in order to furnish a good and lasting character to the person they have appointed.Hamilton's arguments in favor of term limits had the same substance and just as many flaws. Although Hamilton had a point that the Senate tends to become too powerful, by creating a permanent bench of senators he warned that the Senate would forever continue to run its own show and do whatever it wanted to do.Another argument in favor of term limits is that the Senate takes up a lot of time and consumes valuable resources and the time and money spent on senators are much more useful, in terms of getting things done, to put more money into the public treasury. The National Growth and Development Corporation, a non-profit corporation, came into being to handle the waste and mismanagement in state government during the last recession and then turned aroun d and used this time to increase its staff and resources.Arguments against term limits tended to be the ones in favor of spending time in the public eye and using the power and privilege of office to advance an agenda, not to make a name for oneself or a personal political campaign. The arguments for these limits are the ones about getting things done in government and putting forth a public service that people can appreciate.Whatever your stance may be on term limits, there is a strong case for both sides. Neither side is necessarily right or wrong, it is a matter of political opinion. Although I do not support term limits for senators, I know of at least one person who supports term limits.So, if you are interested in advancing the right issues by the ballot box or via popular vote for Congress then do what you feel is right. You can either vote for term limits for senators or just turn out and vote for whoever your congressman is.