by Sharon Jackson
Alaska has never been afraid to lead.
From the moment we became a state, Alaskans embraced an independent spirit rooted in accountability, self-reliance, and distrust of concentrated political power. We are a state that values citizen government over career politicians. We believe public office should be a temporary position of service — not a lifetime entitlement.
That is why Alaska has historically stood at the forefront of political reform movements. Whether it was resource development, government transparency, or demanding greater accountability from elected officials, Alaskans have consistently shown a willingness to challenge the status quo when Washington becomes disconnected from the people it serves.
Today, our nation desperately needs another reform movement, and Alaska should once again lead the way.
That reform is congressional term limits.
Across America, confidence in Congress is collapsing. Poll after poll shows Americans overwhelmingly believe Washington is broken. Congress lurches from crisis to crisis while major national problems remain unresolved. The institution has become dominated by entrenched incumbents, special interests, and permanent political warfare rather than citizen representation.
Alaskans understand this frustration better than most.
We know what it feels like when decisions affecting our lives are made by politicians and bureaucrats thousands of miles away who neither understand nor appreciate our state, our economy, or our values. Too often, Alaska is treated as an afterthought by career politicians who spend decades inside the Washington bubble and lose touch with the realities facing working Americans.
Congress was never intended to function this way.
Our Founders envisioned citizen legislators who would serve for a period of time and then return home to live under the laws they passed. They feared the rise of a permanent ruling class because they understood that concentrated political power eventually serves itself instead of the people.
Sadly, that fear has become reality.
Today, members of Congress routinely remain in office for decades. Seniority has become more important than ideas. Fundraising has become more important than governing. Protecting incumbency has become more important than solving problems.
The longer politicians stay in Washington, the more insulated they become from the concerns of ordinary Americans. They begin listening more to lobbyists, consultants, party leadership, and donors than to the citizens they were elected to represent.
Term limits would help break this cycle.
Congressional term limits would bring new voices, fresh ideas, and greater accountability into Washington. They would reduce the incentive for politicians to build lifelong careers based on political power and instead encourage lawmakers to focus on results during the limited time they serve.
Most importantly, term limits would restore the principle that public service is exactly that — service.
This is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue. It is an American issue.
Polls consistently show overwhelming bipartisan support for congressional term limits. Republicans support them. Democrats support them. Independents support them. Younger voters especially support them because they increasingly view Washington as stagnant, disconnected, and dominated by aging political insiders.
In Alaska, support for term limits runs particularly deep because our political culture values independence and accountability. Alaskans understand that no one should hold power indefinitely. We rotate leadership in nearly every area of life because we know fresh perspectives strengthen institutions.
The irony is that Congress itself is unlikely to ever impose term limits voluntarily. Asking career politicians to limit their own power is like asking bureaucracies to shrink themselves. That is why the states must lead.
Fortunately, our Constitution provides a solution through Article V.
Under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, states can call a convention for proposing constitutional amendments if two-thirds of state legislatures pass matching resolutions. Any amendment proposed would still require ratification by 38 states before becoming law, ensuring broad national consensus.
This process was designed specifically for moments when Washington refuses to reform itself.
Several states have already passed resolutions calling for an Article V convention limited solely to congressional term limits. Alaska should join them.
By doing so, Alaska would send a powerful message that Americans are tired of permanent political power and want a Congress that reflects the citizen-government principles our nation was founded upon.
Some critics fear an Article V convention could spiral out of control. But Alaska’s resolution can be strictly limited to congressional term limits only. States control the scope of their applications, and any proposed amendment would still face the high ratification threshold requiring approval from 38 states.
The greater danger is doing nothing while trust in our federal government continues to erode.
Alaska has always been willing to stand apart from Washington when necessary. We are a state built by people who believed independence, courage, and accountability matter. Those values are needed now more than ever.
Congressional term limits will not solve every problem in Washington overnight. But they would represent a major step toward restoring responsiveness, accountability, and trust in our federal government.
Alaska has a proud history of reform and independence. Now we have an opportunity to help lead the next great reform movement in America.
Our legislature
Sharon Jackson is the Alaska State Chair for U.S. Term Limits.