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Minorities In Congress
% of minorities in congress
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Mera Feygin POLSC 110-04 Essay 2, Question 2 It is often difficult for congress to deliberate and produce laws that are in the interest of national majority. Although the House and senate are representatives of all the citizens of the United States, they don’t necessarily represent the people in terms of demographics. Since the establishment of the US government, white males have predominated all political decisions made in congress. Although their numbers have been on a rise, women and people of racial minorities, such as blacks and Hispanics, have a small percentage of seats in congress. Gay and bisexual members make up an even less percentage, with only seven openly gay or bisexual members, all belonging to the Democratic Party (Kernel, 252). Because of this underrepresentation, the benefit of many of the citizens isn’t considered when laws are being deliberated. Although these citizens can vote for people of their race, gender and sexual orientation, they often do not because they would not have …show more content…
However, it’s the lack of them that is undemocratical. Citizens are given an unfair choice of candidates. They can either cote for a new member, who would have nearly no say in the production of laws, or they can vote for one that has little to no interest in pleasing the people, but is experienced, and has power and influence. Limiting the reelection of current house members would give a clear choice of candidates to the voters. This has been a long time debated issue in the U.S., but it is clearly of national interest. In a five year period, twenty three states have passed laws enforcing term limits on congressional representatives and senators. The Supreme Court deemed them unconstitutional, and struck them down in 1995 (U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton) (Sabato, 46), yet term limitations on a state level have shown
Preventing federal judges to serve for life is a good concept, except when the judges become too old to continue presiding. Setting term limits for judges would be a great idea, because it would add diversity to the court systems every time a new judge arrives. Some judges are just too old, and senile, to still rule on cases and do their job effectively; therefore, setting term limits would ultimately benefit the courts because it would allow for diversity, and a new judge who may have different standards.
Before 1967, interracial unions were illegal. Once the legislature overturned the ruling of the laws against interracial unions, the biracial population increased. Census data reveals that the US’ multiracial population has approached more than nine million individuals. In 1997, due to this dramatic increase, a change was made which allowed the biracial population to check off more than one racial category on the 2000 United States Census. This feat was not accomplished without controversy. A federal task force was set up to investigate the political and social implications of creating a new racial classification....
The Voting Rights Act marked a significant shift in American democracy, ensuring the right to vote for all regardless of race, religion, or sex. The key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, Section IV and Section V, ensured the overview of all state mandated voting laws, safeguarding constitutional values despite racial opposition. The breaking down of this provision under Supreme Court Ruling Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder, Attorney General has the potential to undo decades of progress to tackle racial barriers, isolating and withholding the right to vote for the weak, effectively dissolving democracy for the ones who need it the most. Throughout American history, people of power have isolated specific racial and gender groups and established policies to limit their right to vote. These politicians, in desperate attempt to elongate their political reign, resort to “anything that is within the rules to gain electoral advantage, including expanding or contracting the rate of political participation.
In conclusion, Congressional representatives should be limited to serving two terms. Limiting the terms of career politicians will promote fresh ideas and reduce the possibility of decisions being made for self-interest. It is in our Country’s best interest that our legislator’s decisions are equitable and that compromises are not made to ensure their own or their parties stay in office.
Karp, explores the origin and reasons for the demand on term limits. Karp’s claim over the origin of congressional term limits was made evident in the line “Support for term limits is related to cynicism and, to some extent, self-interest” (Karp, 1995, pg. 373). It is made evident that Karp himself, believes the public only wants to enact term limits for his or her benefits. Karp’s article is well organized because he uses transitional phrases and subtitles to guide the readers through the article. In the beginning, Karp slowly eases the reader into the mind of the general public to understand how and why the public wants legislative limits. The author, Karp, then provides factual evidence via logistics to further prove his point. The organization used throughout the article allowed Karp to answer the question he set out to answer. This reviewer mostly agrees with the author’s claim that the intentions of the public are cynical and revolve around self- interest. The author is not wrong with the self-interest because if the laws passed by the legislators affect the people directly, the people would like to have a say. On the other hand, this reviewer does not agree that the demand for congressional term limits is
Congressmen and Congresswomen having term limits will lead to diversity because open seats in Congress will bring attention to new types of people. What is meant by new types of people is when Edward H. Crane mentions in his article Congressional Term Limits on paragraph 7 Proposition 140 in California, which is limiting the state Assembly to three two year terms. This proposition made the 1992 Assembly elections result in “ In an article on that freshman class, the Los Angeles Times wrote, “ Among the things making the group unusual is that most of them are true outsiders. For the first time in years, the freshman class did not include an abundance of former legislative aides who move up the ladder to become members….Among the 27 are a
With a Citizen’s Congress, there will be less chance for corruption of government officials if their time in office is limited to no more than twelve years. Opponents argue that a problem arises when a popular lawmaker seen by her constituents as being effective and influential would want to re-elect her to Congress - but could be barred from doing so by a term-limit law [6]. However, new politicians are less likely to have the familiarity to exploit the system for personal gain and are more skeptical of lobbyists and special interests group such as the sugar industry, big oil or pharmaceuticals. One only needs to look at the examples set by President’s serving their second term to understand that politicians in their last term of office are more likely to disregard common day politics and media criticism to target what is best for the country; they can work to establish tangible accomplishments that will build on their
“The Framers created a system that protected political minorities from majority tyranny—in order to prevent the majority from limiting the rights of the minority. This is accomplished by creating institutions that share power in order to make it difficult to change policy.” However, the problem with this is that it is assumed that the minorities have resources that they do not really have. In Ben Bishin’s novel, Tyranny of the Minority, he explains how his Sub Constituency Politics Theory can effectively resolve many of the issues with minorities and under what circumstances minorities can prevail in American politics by using the three general themes of groups, individuals, and legislators that address the behavior and motivation of the theory’s
Today there is considerable disagreement in the country over Affirmative Action with the American people. MSNBC reported a record low in support for Affirmative Action with 45% in support and 45% opposing (Muller, 2013). The affirmative action programs have afforded all genders and races, exempting white males, a sense of optimism and an avenue to get the opportunities they normally would not be eligible for. This advantage includes admission in colleges or hiring preferences with public and private jobs; although Affirmative Action has never required quotas the government has initiated a benefits program for the schools and companies that elect to be diversified. The advantages that are received by the minorities’ only take into account skin color, gender, disability, etc., are what is recognized as discriminatory factors. What is viewed as racism to the majority is that there ar...
In fact, all members of Congress have term limits. Voters get to determine every two years in the House and six years in the Senate whether a member is still serving their interests. Term limits cannot guarantee either individual liberty or good government if voters with bad ideas replace bad legislators with other bad
Through Congress, citizens are given the ability to hold the power to control the structure of America. All in all, allowing them to determine policies and live in a country that believes in the power of democracy so their voices can be heard. The media generates the power that Congress holds, providing a communication forum that allows them to manipulate voting decisions. However, the progressing media technology, allowing easier access points for citizens voices to be heard, helps diminish some of the bias media that is being delivered through our television and radios. Other external and internal elements are also positively and negatively influencing Congress and the policies it creates. The congressional election allows the peoples voices to be heard, although unfair advantages for incumbencies are depriving the people from impacting the voting process and diminishing their given influence. Term-Limit policies
Do you think that The Supreme Court should have term limits like the other branches in government? One reason why there should be term limits is that if a Justice came in then there will be modern way of thinking to handle the issues. Also, most Americans would support having a term limit on the nine U.S. Supreme Court justices, who now serve for life. Plus, after a while the justices tend to become feeble. I know that that by having term limits many people will be disappointed, but does majority matter more than a few people? That is why The Supreme Court should have term limits.
Some people say that “incoming legislators will be entirely unqualified for their jobs and will be easily led astray by staff, bureaucrats, special interests, etc” (Weeks). This simply would not occur because the system is not set up to work like that. For example, special groups and lobbyist can take advantage of the “long-term relationships with sitting legislators” (Weeks). Congress also avoids many responsibilities by entrusting bureaucratic groups (Weeks). Term limits will eliminate careerism within the United States. “The strength of special interests actually would be vastly diminished” (Greenburg). They thrive because of relationships of “long-term incumbents”
Voters will have restricted choices although they want to vote for experienced incumbents who want to run for reelection. The term limit is not necessary because candidates have to be elected by their constituents. Jeff Biggs, press secretary for House Speaker Tom Foley, asserts that the term limit is unnecessary by saying "There are term limits in place every two years -- candidates have to go before constituents and get reelected." Although incumbents run for election again, they cannot be elected if they do not have good reputation among constituents. Other disadvantage caused by the term limit is limited power of small states, which used to reelect only few incumbents again and again. Because they have only few possible candidates, there are not enough people who can run for the next election after one person retires from Congress. However, I still do think that the term limit is necessary to distribute power evenly and keep equality. As certain people are elected for the same position again, they will get more “experience” and find much sneakier ways to keep their positions. Term limit also prevent new and young candidates who have not experienced from having less chance to work in Congress. As more skillful but unknown candidates get more chance, they will improve and change our
According to Linz, term limits in presidentialism force a president to serve a country for a fixed period of time