Practical Solutions Government Three-Senator System

About a practical proposal to change the government to a three-senator system divided up by age groups.

SOLUTIONS--PRACTICAL PROPOSALS AND BRAND-NEW APPROACHES TO A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS

GOVERNMENT

The Three-Senator System

Now that we have reduced the eligible voting age to 18, let's give our young people a voice, as well as a vote, in our government.

I propose an amendment to the Constitution giving each state three senators instead of two: a junior senator, to be between the ages of 18 and 40; an intermediate senator, to be between the ages of 35 and 55; and a senior senator, to be over 50 years of age.

There would be no age limit for the senior senator, because I do not believe that age sets a limit to capability. I am in my 80s and am taking more interest in the problems of political, economic, and social conditions and their future trends than I did when I was younger.

Under my system, there would be less of a chance than there is now that an older person would become a permanent fixture, since an experienced younger person would always be coming up from a younger classification to compete for the office.

You will notice that the age brackets overlap in the three classifications, providing an opportunity for continuous service advancement from one bracket to the next.

Having young people in office in whom young people can confide will create more incentive for them to take a greater interest in their government and will provide a means of orderly expression.

James E. Euwer

Hemet, Calif.

Source: Reprinted from Harper's Weekly (Dec. 29, 1975).