Term Limits Would Likely Weaken — Not Fix — Congress

Few would argue that Congress is performing well today. The federal government recently endured the longest shutdown in U.S. history when lawmakers failed to approve annual spending bills or a continuing resolution, and Congress repeatedly falls short on major issues such as immigration.

Why experience matters

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and former Rep. David Trone have argued that imposing term limits would make Congress more effective by curbing "career politicians." But there is nothing inherently wrong with career legislators: effectiveness in Congress is closely tied to experience. Longer service gives members time to acquire policy expertise, procedural know-how, and working relationships with colleagues. Those capacities are essential for building coalitions, shepherding bills through committee and floor debate, and navigating the complexities of lawmaking—skills that first-term members do not immediately possess.

Evidence from state legislatures

Research on state legislative term limits offers a cautionary lesson. Lawmakers serving their final, term-limited sessions often hold fewer office hours for constituents, provide less assistance with governmental problems, and participate less frequently in roll-call voting. These patterns suggest that when lawmakers know their time is limited, they may shift focus away from constituent service and thoughtful lawmaking toward planning for careers after office.

Contrary to claims that term limits will diminish lobbyist influence, the evidence is mixed: shortened tenures can increase legislators’ reliance on outside expertise and interest groups because newer members have less time to master complex issues. Studies show that term limits can redistribute power away from legislators and toward other actors, including executive officials, staffers, and interest groups.

Accountability without arbitrary limits

Our democratic system already gives voters tools to remove ineffective or corrupt representatives: incumbents must run for reelection, and constituents can decline to return them to office. Incumbency does confer advantages—name recognition, fundraising and staff support—but challengers can and do succeed. High-profile upsets such as Dave Brat’s 2014 primary defeat of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s 2018 primary victory over Joe Crowley show that incumbents are not invulnerable.

Public dissatisfaction with Congress alongside high incumbent reelection rates may reflect low civic engagement, polarized and diverse public preferences, or voters’ reluctance to trade an experienced representative for a newcomer who lacks institutional knowledge. Replacing experienced lawmakers wholesale would also remove members who have built the expertise and relationships necessary to pass legislation and deliver results for constituents.

Better solutions than blanket term limits

The ailments facing the national legislature are varied and complex. Effective remedies are likely to be multiple and targeted rather than blunt. Constructive options include:

• Strengthening congressional staffing and institutional resources so members and committees can develop policy expertise.
• Pursuing election reforms that improve accountability and competition, such as fairer redistricting, improved ballot access, and measures to boost voter engagement.
• Adjusting procedural rules to reduce gridlock and encourage deliberation, transparency, and bipartisan cooperation.
• Enhancing ethics and disclosure rules to address the influence of special interests without reducing lawmakers’ capacity to legislate effectively.

Term limits may appear attractive politically, but the evidence suggests they would likely weaken Congress’s capacity to govern by stripping away experience, increasing reliance on outside actors, and encouraging short-term behavior. Thoughtful reforms that bolster legislative capacity and accountability would better address the root problems.

Jaehun Lee is a research associate at the American Enterprise Institute.