Bismarck – Retire Congress North Dakota announces that it has been approved to circulate petitions for an amendment to the North Dakota state Constitution that would prohibit anyone from North Dakota older than 80 from being elected to Congress.
“We’re excited to get to work gathering signatures so that North Dakotans can decide this issue on the ballot in 2024,” said Jared Hendrix, Chairperson of the measure sponsoring committee. “More and more people are realizing there’s a political class that holds onto power for decades. Many in the public are questioning the ability of many leaders in Washington, and whether or not they’re really in touch with the issues of the day that matter to families, or just holding onto power and personal legacy.”
The proposed amendment, if passed, would not impact any current North Dakota congressional office holders eligible for reelection in 2024. “This measure is not about any particular politician,”continued Hendrix. “It’s about the principle itself.”
“You can’t run for US Senate if you’re not 30, and you can’t run for Congress if you’re not 25. So we already have age limits on the lower end, why not on the upper end? If it’s reasonable to suggest we want a certain amount of life experience before someone serves, then it is just as reasonable to say we want a certain amount of ability and attachment to the issues of the day affecting working families”.
Without congressional term limits in our federal constitution preventing members from serving indefinitely, many in Congress hold their positions for life. Polling shows large numbers of Americans favor term limits on members of Congress and are greatly concerned with aged members of Congress serving into their 80s or 90s. The petition being circulated sets a maximum of 80 years and states no person may be elected or appointed to serve a term or a portion of a term in the U.S. Senate or the U.S. House of Representatives if that person could attain 81 years of age by December 31st of the year immediately preceding the end of the term. Now that it has been approved, Retire Congress North Dakota is intent on obtaining the required signatures to get it on the ballot for June of 2024.
