The Federal Constitution outlines three distinct term limits. Representatives in the House serve a two-year term, Senators serve a six-year term (with one third of the group being chosen every two years to ensure that two-thirds of the group provide continuity) and the President serves a four-year term. The Federal Constitution neither encourages nor prevents reelection but by its design it implies no need whatsoever for any representative, senator or president to be reelected. Reelection to Federal service satisfies no inherent need in the system.
Service at the Federal level was only designed to be a lifetime commitment for the judiciary. Article III, Section 1 of the Federal Constitution identifies that Federal Judges are appointed to serve a life-time position - "The judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behaviour..." There was originally no definition of term limits of any type for any other Federal position.
Only after FDR's historical reelection to third and fourth terms did Congress act (and the States ratify - in 1951) the 22nd amendment which limits the President to two full terms. Had Congress had enough foresight and understanding, however, they might well have limited all Federal service to a single term.
Reelection encourages corruption. Reelection fosters a culture of elitist entitlement. Reelection distances our public servants from their gratitude to the public and their attitude of service. Reelection, in short, is counterproductive to the goal of protecting the liberties of the people.
A conscientious and attentive populace should be easily able to find new candidates to replace the current office-holder at every election. If the culture of Federal politics were changed to expect only single terms of office then each election would place all candidates on equal footing because incumbency carries significant privilege and advantage. Just look at the power and prestige that an incumbent president has while campaigning for reelection. The travel expenses alone are supplemented through public expenditure while non-incumbant candidates must cover their own costs.
A conscientious and attentive populace should be easily able to find new candidates to replace the current office-holder at every election. If the culture of Federal politics were changed to expect only single terms of office then each election would place all candidates on equal footing because incumbency carries significant privilege and advantage. Just look at the power and prestige that an incumbent president has while campaigning for reelection. The travel expenses alone are supplemented through public expenditure while non-incumbant candidates must cover their own costs.
Reelection is a form of codependency. By re-electing a person to office we are postponing that person's return to productivity. Public service should be entered into much the same way as community service. People provide a set number of hours of community service (often as a form of punishment or restitution) and upon completion of the hours they are released from their duties. Rather than sending hardened criminals into public service (which to some extent we already do, given the amount of corruption committed by career politicians) we should seek to find honest and trustworthy citizens to represent us and then call them back home and out of harms way once that service term is complete. We have no shortage of citizens to serve in these roles. Let's spread the civic duty a bit more evenly among us all.
