by John Traveler

Created on: May 26, 2010   Last Updated: May 27, 2010

When it comes to term limits for elected officials, the most astute query to consider is who benefits from term limits an who does not. It’s a matter invoking the most elementary attribute of representative government.

The fundamental premise of the American form of democracy is “government of the people, for the people, by the people.” If a majority of the people in a given district or state, are dissatisfied with the representation of their best interest by an elected Congressional representative or Senator, they can remove them from office every two years in the case of Congress and every six years with respect to the Senate.

On the other hand, should these public servants uphold the trust invested in them to represent their constituencies, they can continue to serve so long as a majority of the electorate returns them to office.

In this sense of it, term limits would seem to be a device designed to assure that a majority of the electorate, rather than having autonomy to choose who they want to represent them, instead are to be limited in their choice for representative.

So, if term limits take away the choice of a majority of the electorate to elect who they want and for as long as they want,  term limits could therefore be considered a detractor to democratic ideal and an abutment to freedom of choice as expressed by majority rule.

Who then benefits from term limits? You need look no farther than those groups who are endorsing term limits to answer this question. The one common attribute they share is that they are always in the minority.

Historically, term limits have been the rallying cry for groups that tend to align themselves with libertarian causes, but who rarely, if ever, can muster enough support to get their candidates into office.

They are essentially frustrated by the majority of the citizenry they don’t agree with, regardless of whether it leans to the conservative or liberal side of the political spectrum, and the are seeking some way to thwart the majorities power.

It only stands to reason, that by implementing term limits the right of the majority to reelect a popular representative is taken away and the opportunity for minority interests and even special interest to get their own political pawns into power is enhanced.

In essence, term limits establish the potential for more corruptive influence and imposition of minority rule. One need look no further than states and local governments where term limits have

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