Is North Dakota’s new age limit for Congress constitutional?
By Ray Bogan (Political Correspondent)
North Dakota’s voters approved a ballot measure that sets an age limit for who can represent the state in Congress. The constitutional amendment says a candidate cannot run if they would turn 81 during their term.
Media Landscape
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Left
North Dakota voters just approved an age limit for congressional candidates. What’s next? – Seymour Tribune
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsNorth Dakota voters just approved an age limit for congressional candidates. What’s next?
Click to see story on abc NewsNorth Dakota voters pass age restrictions on congressional candidates in new ballot measure
Click to see story on CNNNorth Dakota voters pass measure to impose age limits on congressional candidates
Click to see story on NBC NewsNorth Dakota voters just approved an age limit for congressional candidates. What’s next?
Click to see story on KIFINorth Dakota voters just approved an age limit for congressional candidates. What’s next?
Click to see story on KVIANorth Dakota voters pass measure setting age limit for congressional candidates
Click to see story on The HillNorth Dakota voters just approved an age limit for congressional candidates. What’s next?
Click to see story on WPLGNorth Dakota voters just approved an age limit for congressional candidates. What’s next?
Click to see story on WKMGNorth Dakota voters just approved an age limit for congressional candidates. What’s next?
Click to see story on Click on DetroitNorth Dakota voters just approved an age limit for congressional candidates. What’s next?
Click to see story on San Diego Union TribuneNorth Dakota Backs Age Limit for Congress
Click to see story on Political WireNorth Dakotans Pass Age Limit Measure For State’s Congress Members—Here’s What To Know
Click to see story on ForbesNorth Dakota voters just approved an age limit for congressional candidates. What’s next?
Click to see story on KOB 4North Dakota voters approve age limit for members of US Congress
Click to see story on Scripps NewsNorth Dakota voters pass measure setting age limit for congressional candidates
Click to see story on KX NEWSIs North Dakota’s new age limit for Congress constitutional?
Click to see story on Straight Arrow NewsNorth Dakota Approves Age Limit for Congressional Candidates – News Facts Network
Click to see story on News Facts NetworkNorth Dakota could introduce new rule for aging lawmakers
Click to see story on Washington ExaminerND voters back measure that imposes age limits on members of state’s congressional delegation
Click to see story on InforumVoters pass ballot measure imposing age limits for members of Congress from North Dakota
Click to see story on Just the NewsNorth Dakota Voters Support Age Limits for Congressional Candidates
Click to see story on The Epoch TimesNorth Dakota Voters Approve Ballot Measure Imposing Age Limits on Congressional Candidates
Click to see story on RedStateNorth Dakota ‘first-in-nation’ to set age restrictions on congressional candidates
Click to see story on Conservative News TodayNorth Dakota voters approve ballot measure setting age limit on US congressional candidates
Click to see story on Fox NewsRight
The measure is likely to be challenged in court and may not be constitutional. In its 1995 decision U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states cannot impose additional requirements on qualifying for Congress.
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“It’s probably not constitutional,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said. “The Constitution doesn’t, it sets out an age minimum, but not an age maximum. So my guess, I’m sure somebody will take this to court, but my guess is it’ll probably get struck down.”
But if this were upheld in court and states nationwide adopted it, about two dozen elected representatives would be impacted. In the House, 18 members either already are or would be too old to run for another term. Four senators are already too old and many more would be during another six-year term, including 79-year-old Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.
“I don’t understand what North Dakota thinks they have the authority to establish any maximum age for service,” Durbin told Straight Arrow News.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, would barely be allowed to run for reelection; he would turn 80 at the end of another six-year term.
“I love federalism, which means the states can pass their own rules, and we can have an experiment and see if it works,” Cornyn said. “So more power to them.”
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Aside from the constitutionality, congresspeople wonder if this measure will send a message. If it were applied to presidential candidates, neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden would be allowed to appear on North Dakota’s ballot in November.
“We already have term limits for the president, obviously, we should have term limits for members of Congress,” Hawley told SAN. “I mean, just look around. I think there’s a lot of great examples of why we should have them.”
[RAY BOGAN]
North Dakota’s voters approved a ballot measure that sets an age limit for who can represent the state in Congress. The constitutional amendment says a candidate cannot run if they would turn 81 during their term.
The measure is likely to be challenged in court and may not be constitutional. In its 1995 decision U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton, the Supreme Court ruled that states cannot impose additional requirements on qualifying for Congress.
[JOSH HAWLEY]
“It’s probably not constitutional. The Constitution doesn’t, it sets out an age minimum, but not an age maximum. So my guess, I’m sure somebody will take this to court, but my guess is it’ll probably get struck down.”
[RAY BOGAN]
But if this were upheld in court and states nationwide adopted it, about two dozen elected representatives would be impacted. 18 House members either already are or would be too old to run for another term. Four Senators are already too old and many more would be during another six year term, including 79-year-old Sen. Dick Durbin.
[DICK DURBIN]
“I don’t understand what North Dakota thinks they have the authority to establish any maximum age for service.”
[RAY BOGAN]
Sen. John Cornyn would barely be allowed to run for reelection; he would turn 80 at the end of another six-year term.
[JOHN CORNYN]
“I love federalism, which means the states can pass their own rules, and we can have an experiment and see if it works. So more power to them.”
[RAY BOGAN]
Aside from the constitutionality, does this measure send a message? After all, if it were applied to presidential candidates, neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden would be allowed to appear on North Dakota’s ballot in November.
[JOSH HAWLEY]
“We already have term limits for the President, obviously, we should have term limits for members of Congress. I mean, just look around. I think there’s a lot of great examples of why we should have them.”
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
Left
North Dakota voters just approved an age limit for congressional candidates. What’s next? – Seymour Tribune
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsNorth Dakota voters just approved an age limit for congressional candidates. What’s next?
Click to see story on abc NewsNorth Dakota voters pass age restrictions on congressional candidates in new ballot measure
Click to see story on CNNNorth Dakota voters pass measure to impose age limits on congressional candidates
Click to see story on NBC NewsNorth Dakota voters just approved an age limit for congressional candidates. What’s next?
Click to see story on KIFINorth Dakota voters just approved an age limit for congressional candidates. What’s next?
Click to see story on KVIANorth Dakota voters pass measure setting age limit for congressional candidates
Click to see story on The HillNorth Dakota voters just approved an age limit for congressional candidates. What’s next?
Click to see story on WPLGNorth Dakota voters just approved an age limit for congressional candidates. What’s next?
Click to see story on WKMGNorth Dakota voters just approved an age limit for congressional candidates. What’s next?
Click to see story on Click on DetroitNorth Dakota voters just approved an age limit for congressional candidates. What’s next?
Click to see story on San Diego Union TribuneNorth Dakota Backs Age Limit for Congress
Click to see story on Political WireNorth Dakotans Pass Age Limit Measure For State’s Congress Members—Here’s What To Know
Click to see story on ForbesNorth Dakota voters just approved an age limit for congressional candidates. What’s next?
Click to see story on KOB 4North Dakota voters approve age limit for members of US Congress
Click to see story on Scripps NewsNorth Dakota voters pass measure setting age limit for congressional candidates
Click to see story on KX NEWSIs North Dakota’s new age limit for Congress constitutional?
Click to see story on Straight Arrow NewsNorth Dakota Approves Age Limit for Congressional Candidates – News Facts Network
Click to see story on News Facts NetworkNorth Dakota could introduce new rule for aging lawmakers
Click to see story on Washington ExaminerND voters back measure that imposes age limits on members of state’s congressional delegation
Click to see story on InforumVoters pass ballot measure imposing age limits for members of Congress from North Dakota
Click to see story on Just the NewsNorth Dakota Voters Support Age Limits for Congressional Candidates
Click to see story on The Epoch TimesNorth Dakota Voters Approve Ballot Measure Imposing Age Limits on Congressional Candidates
Click to see story on RedStateNorth Dakota ‘first-in-nation’ to set age restrictions on congressional candidates
Click to see story on Conservative News TodayNorth Dakota voters approve ballot measure setting age limit on US congressional candidates
Click to see story on Fox NewsRight
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