The recent illnesses and deaths of several prominent, long-serving members of Congress have renewed public debate over term limits and age limits for federal lawmakers – of which there are presently none. Once the most constrained branch of power, congressional authority has significantly increased since America’s founding due to expanded Commerce Clause interpretation, massive bureaucracy and spending power, and delegation of rulemaking authority to federal agencies. However, a recent poll found that 8-in-10 Americans across the political spectrum support congressional term limits and age restrictions. Critics cited lack of accountability due to the Constitution not having attendance or voting requirements for members of Congress. “While term limits wouldn't shrink Congress's actual authority, they would at least interrupt the incentive structure that rewards careerism over craftsmanship, making the job less appealing to status-seekers and less of a lifelong perch,” Neily added.