Megan Schmitt | Oppose HCR16

New Hampshire’s system is grounded in Article 10 of our Constitution, which reserves the power of government to the people. That power includes the right to choose representatives — and just as importantly, the right to remove them through elections. Term limits weaken that principle. They replace the judgment of voters with a fixed rule that applies regardless of whether an official is doing a good job or still has the confidence of their constituents. Under Article 10, accountability flows from the people, not from automatic disqualifications written into the constitution. In practice, term limits don’t eliminate power; they redirect it. When experienced, voter-approved officials are forced out, influence shifts to unelected staff, administrators, and outside interests who are not accountable to voters and are not term-limited. New Hampshire relies on a citizen legislature and public offices that function best with experience, continuity, and institutional knowledge. Term limits shorten the learning curve and reduce the effectiveness of offices that are meant to serve the public, not the bureaucracy. If an official is no longer serving the people well, voters already have the constitutional authority to act. That authority should be protected, not restricted. For these reasons, I respectfully ask the committee to vote Inexpedient to Legislate on HCR 16.