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The duties of the United States Congress

Should Congress be Reformed?

In order to understand this debatable issue, one must look at what does mean when something is "reformed?" Our common language tells us that when something is reformed, it means to make better by changing or removing abuses, to improve in ethics, to educate and make a better life. In other words, when something is reformed it means restoring, improving in conduct to a better way.


My goal is to present an argument for each side. Arguments for and against congressional reformation, term limits in particular, have been made through out history, and there are convincing points on both sides on this debate.
On one hand, we have a problem in congress today it is called "Congress for Life." Many Congress representatives have obtained a career in Congress. They unlike our Presidents who have followed the example set by George Washington, our very first President, who only served two terms. George Washington believed in "rotation in office," not that there were legal requirements set, but from tradition. President Roosevelt broke that tradition when he ran for office and won four times. As a result, the nation adopted the 22nd amendment in 1951, limiting the presidency to two terms. During this period of time, tradition in Congress followed that they would serve possibly two terms in House and one or two in the Senate, then return to their normal lives. Over a period of time, this tradition changed, and out of it became a new breed of Congress, who made it a career.
The careerist's are known as incumbents. An incumbent is someone who is currently in the office. In most recent years "over 90 percent of all House incumbents who stand reelection are reelected; in 1986 and 1988 over 98 percent retained their seats." (Page 184 American Government) Three factors may be part of why so many incumbents are reelected: They are 1) Low turnout, not as many people participate in congressional races. 2) Service to Constituents, taking credit for things getting done, whether deserved or not, and doing favors for constituents. 3) Able to "duck responsibility" that is blaming others. Incumbents use advertising to influence others by placing their name in "favorable light," and trying to sell them selves like a "product brand name." Besides "credit claiming," members are often perceived as taking the "right" position, meaning what ever the "majority of constituents want."
Is it possible that these incumbents "careerist" being intent on holding onto their


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