Can someone be too old to hold office? Watching current representatives flounder on TV when briefing the media and hearing about different health scares, it's time to consider an age limit. We can't ignore that the median age of U.S. senators is now at a record high of 65. And let's not forget that President Biden, at 80, is the oldest president ever elected in U.S. history, aiming to remain in office until 86. It's got me thinking, how old is too old to hold office?

Concerns over life expectancy and mental fitness are reasonable. Not to mention that an advanced age Congress can enact policies that will never impact them in their lifetime but rather determine the world in which the future generation lives. The problem is there are few legal options to address this issue of gerontocracy. A gerontocracy can otherwise be defined as a form of oligarchical rule in which a country is ruled by leaders who are significantly older than most of the adult population.

In 2019, the average age in the United States was 38 years old. But the average age of a U.S. Senator is 65 - with 67 out of 100 senators over the age of 60. There is a much smaller amount of representatives and senators who are around the average age in the United State or younger, with Maxwell Frost the youngest at 26. Representative Don Young and Senators Patrick Leahy and Chuck Grassley have served in Congress for almost double Maxwell's age - serving 47+ years. 

Interestingly, we have a minimum age requirement for office but no maximum age. In the past, attempts to set maximum age limits have been ruled unconstitutional, citing the need to preserve the qualifications outlined in the Constitution. But we also need to preserve the future and sanity of the country. Here's an idea - what if we set age limits for politicians elected in the future? Then we can protect the representation of younger generations and their future. It would require a constitutional amendment, but with enough support, it's possible.

Age isn't typically a decisive factor in elections; other things like a candidate's political party, race, gender, and stance on issues tend to matter more. But perhaps it's time to reconsider the benefits of age limits as well as term limits. After all, they could bring fresh perspectives to the table while still respecting the experience of seasoned politicians.

Congress can and should propose a constitutional amendment to change age requirements. We need to rethink age in politics and work towards implementing these limits to create a more responsive and dynamic government. This way, we can have a government that represents the diverse needs of the American people and will enact policies that will impact their own life and not just future generations. Please join me in signing this petition so we can make a difference together.