U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton - Significance

During the 1980s and 1990s, sentiment in favor of term limitations grew throughout the nation. Career politicians, according to the grass-roots organizers who were attempting to sway public opinion, had a way of becoming complacent and unresponsive to their constituents; yet with the advantages given by the electoral system to incumbents, they were more likely to be reelected than their challengers. The solution, it seemed, was to put a limit on the number of terms a senator or representative could serve. Short of a nationwide movement for a constitutional amendment, this aim could be achieved through state action.