By Leigh Brown, Guest Columnist
Until Franklin Roosevelt, no president had served more than two elected terms in office. It was a tradition established by George Washington.
Two presidents prior to Roosevelt had sought to do so – Ulysses S. Grant and Woodrow Wilson – and had failed in even securing their party’s nomination. Roosevelt, citing World War II, ran for an unprecedented third term and then a fourth term, even though he was dying (he died 82 days into his fourth term).
After this, there was widespread calls to establish a constitutional amendment to set term limits for the president. Roosevelt’s successor, Harry Truman, who was an advocate of term limits for both the presidency and Congress, supported this initiative.
When Congress, appeared reluctant to pass an amendment setting terms for the presidency, the states started to act to call for a constitutional amendment. As the states were nearing this, Congress decided it was in its best interest to address the issue. This was the genesis of the 22nd American which was ratified on Feb. 27, 1951.
Truman, who was president when the 22nd Amendment was ratified, was grandfathered in so it did not affect him. However, Truman believed two terms were enough for any occupant in the White House. Believing that since he had served all but 82 days of Roosevelt’s fourth term, he had served two terms, Truman opted not to run again in 1952. Truman hoped Congress would further act on term limits for itself after the 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951. It never has to this date.
Today we celebrate Feb. 27 as National Term Limits Day. We do this raise awareness of today’s most popular and bipartisan issue – congressional term limits.
A recent Pew Research poll showed 87 percent of Americans regardless of political affiliation support congressional term limits. Yet, despite this overwhelming support, Congress refuses to act on congressional term limits. House Joint Resolution 11 by U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, with over 100 co-sponsors, would have set terms for
the House of Representatives at three terms – six years – and the Senate at two terms – 12 years – was defeated by a committee vote of 19-17.
So, if Congress won’t pass term limits, what can be done? Just as with the debate over presidential terms, the states can take the initiative, calling for a convention to adopt a congressional term limits amendment. When enough states request a convention to add a congressional term limits amendment to the Constitution, Congress is bypassed and the amendment can be proposed by the states for ratification. Or Congress might see what is happening and act as it did with 22nd Amendment.
Six states, – Florida, Alabama, Missouri, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and West Virginia – have called for a limited convention to propose a congressional term limits amendment to the Constitution. The N.C. House passed a congressional term limits resolution 2023. Final action is pending in the state Senate.
This National Term Limits Day, events will be held throughout the nation to bring attention to the need for congressional term limits. If term limits are good enough for the president, why not for Congress?
Happy Term Limits Day; let’s finish the job and get term limit for Congress.
Leigh Brown is the North Carolina state chair for U.S. Term Limits.