Term limits.ITEM: Staff writer Daniel B. Wood stated in the April 27, 2004 Christian Science Christian Science, religion founded upon principles of divine healing and laws expressed in the acts and sayings of Jesus, as discovered and set forth by Mary Baker Eddy and practiced by the Church of Christ, Scientist. Monitor that the term-limits movement "has reached its high-tide mark and may be ebbing." Among the reasons he cited for the decline in the popularity of the movement were: 1) "it would throw experienced lawmakers out of government"; and 2) it made "executive branches ... relatively more powerful." He quoted University of Virginia political scientist/researcher Larry Sabato Larry J. Sabato (b. August 7, 1952) is the Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, director of their Center for Politics, and a political analyst. He was called "the most-quoted college professor in the land" by the Wall Street Journal in 1994. , who found that many state officials who have experienced the effects of term limitation movements "are virtually unanimous in declaring them a disaster." AHEAD OF THE CURVE: The June 10, 1996 issue of THE NEW AMERICAN featured Attorney George Detweiler's assessment of the term-limits movement. He urged rejection of the practice for the very reasons now becoming obvious to others. For instance, Mr. Detweiler wrote: "By throwing everyone out of office after a fixed number of terms, we rid ourselves of deciding who is doing a good job and who is not. The finest and the worst are discarded dis·card v. dis·card·ed, dis·card·ing, dis·cards v.tr. 1. To throw away; reject. 2. a. To throw out (a playing card) from one's hand. b. by the calendar." Also, "term limits would increase the influence of the executive branch at the expense of the legislative branch." Mr. Detweiler pointed out that Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Roger Sherman and other Founding Fathers opposed the concept of term limits. For instance, he noted that Sherman, a delegate A person who is appointed, authorized, delegated, or commissioned to act in the place of another. Transfer of authority from one to another. A person to whom affairs are committed by another. A person elected or appointed to be a member of a representative assembly. at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, had warned the assembly against making term limits a part of the Constitution, saying: "Frequent elections are necessary to preserve the good behavior Orderly and lawful action; conduct that is deemed proper for a peaceful and law-abiding individual. The definition of good behavior depends upon how the phrase is used. of rulers. They also tend to give permanency per·ma·nen·cy n. Permanence: tourists who were in awe of the permanency of the great pyramids of Egypt. Noun 1. to the Government, by preserving that good behavior, because it ensures their re-election." Mr. Detweiler opined: "It is difficult to challenge Sherman's logic: If a politician were not eligible to run for reelection re·e·lect also re-e·lect tr.v. re·e·lect·ed, re·e·lect·ing, re·e·lects To elect again. re because of term limits, what incentive would he have to please the voters?" Mr. Detweiler concluded, "There is simply no substitute for well-informed voters who see through hollow promises and who demand that elected representatives adhere strictly to the Constitution." |
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