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Aging Politicians
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US Politics Digest – October 2023
In this course, Dr Amy Tatum (Bournemouth University) explores some events in US politics from April to October 2023. In the first module, we look at the issue of aging politicians. After this, we explore some of the events in foreign policy. Then, we discuss the significance of independent candidates for the 2024 election. In the fourth module, we look at the Republican nomination race for 2024. After this, we explore the controversy that surrounded the Speaker of the House in this period. Then, we look at some recent and important Supreme Court rulings from this period. In the penultimate module, we look at what's been going on with Donald Trump in this period. Finally, we explore the issue of women in US politics.
Aging Politicians
In the first module, we look at the issue of aging politicians. In particular, we explore: (i) the minimum ages for people wishing to run for office; (ii) what the average age of US politicians looks like today; (iii) some notable examples of aging politicians, including discussions of Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell and Diane Feinstein; and (iv) what could be done to solve the issue of aging politicians.
I'm doctor Amy Tatum.
00:00:05I'm a lecturer in media and communication, a born
00:00:07University, and I'm going to be,
00:00:09delivering the US politics digest for October twenty twenty three.
00:00:12The constitution provides minimum ages for people wishing
00:00:17to run for office,
00:00:20a person must be thirty five years old to hold the office of president.
00:00:21Thirty for a US senator and twenty five for a house representative.
00:00:25However,
00:00:30the constitution does not provide any age limit in terms
00:00:30of the oldest an office holder can be.
00:00:33There are no compulsory age restrictions or retirement ages
00:00:36for federal office holders in any of the three branches of government.
00:00:39This has become an important talking point in the present climate,
00:00:43given the advanced ages of many of the key players in the
00:00:46current political sphere.
00:00:49In a recent Pew Research Center survey,
00:00:51it was found that seventy nine percent of Americans are in
00:00:54favor of there being a maximum age limit.
00:00:56For elected officials,
00:00:59and seventy four percent supported age limits for
00:01:00Supreme Court justices.
00:01:03As we look forward to the twenty twenty four presidential elections,
00:01:05The current two front runners for the major parties are long
00:01:09past the usual retirement age. If elected, Joe Biden will be
00:01:12eighty two when he begins his second term.
00:01:16The Republican front runner, former president Donald Trump,
00:01:19will be seventy eight years old.
00:01:23AHS potential to become a talking point in the lead up to
00:01:25the general election.
00:01:28So the constitution states, in the twenty fifth amendment,
00:01:30In case of the removal of the president from office or of his
00:01:33death or resignation, the vice president shall become president
00:01:37Given the current political candidates advancing age,
00:01:42the issue of succession could be one that draws attention.
00:01:45This therefore places more emphasis on the candidates for vice president.
00:01:49Kamala Harris is the expected vice presidential candidate for
00:01:53the democratic twenty twenty four ticket.
00:01:56She faced similar discussions in the twenty twenty election,
00:01:59given Biden's already advancing age. However, in recent months,
00:02:02the speculation around cognitive health has increased.
00:02:06The discussions are expected to intensify as the election heats up.
00:02:10The discussion around age limits for officials has also
00:02:14been exacerbated by the prominence of older politicians
00:02:18in the legislative branch.
00:02:21In recent months,
00:02:23there have been a notable decline in the health of Senate
00:02:24minority leader and Kentucky Senator, Mitch McConnell.
00:02:26McConnell is now eighty one and has had a high number,
00:02:30a number of high profile appearances,
00:02:34that have raised concerns for his health.
00:02:36In July of this year,
00:02:38McConnell was speaking at a press conference,
00:02:40in which he appeared to freeze and be unable to continue with his speech.
00:02:42He was led away from the podium and the cameras by his staff,
00:02:46and it was later confirmed that he had spoken with his medical
00:02:50team and was cleared for work.
00:02:53However, to many watching,
00:02:55it appeared that McConnell was suffering from a type of
00:02:56neurological issue, and it raised further concern about
00:02:59his cognitive health,
00:03:03and ability to discharge the duties of his office.
00:03:05In September of this year, the oldest sitting senator,
00:03:08Diane Feinsteinstein died at age ninety.
00:03:11Beinstein's been a senator since nineteen ninety two.
00:03:14Although once the fierce champion of women's rights and
00:03:18a strong voice in the liberal wing of the democratic party,
00:03:20Feinsteinstein's recent years have become marked by health
00:03:24issues, absences from the chamber due to ill health,
00:03:26and high profile moments of confusion.
00:03:29Although she had announced in February twenty twenty three
00:03:32that she would not seek reelection,
00:03:35she did remain in the Senate until her death.
00:03:37Despite being absent from her duties,
00:03:40much to the frustration of many constituents.
00:03:42The current median age of the US Senate is sixty five point
00:03:45three years old. For the house, this is fifty seven years old.
00:03:49These are interesting numbers given the average retirement
00:03:53age in the United States is sixty one.
00:03:55The aging nature of both chambers of their legislature
00:03:58evokes questions of competency or of the ability to discharge
00:04:02the duties of the office.
00:04:05If suffering from ill health or issues of declining health.
00:04:07Whilst it does not automatically correlate,
00:04:11the old age equals ill health,
00:04:13It is important that those representing the citizens of
00:04:16the states have the health to attend sessions,
00:04:18to speak for their constituents,
00:04:21and to stay on top of the demands of the office.
00:04:23Age will be a concerning factor of current US politics,
00:04:26and will only become more of a hot topic as we move towards
00:04:29the twenty twenty four general election.
00:04:32With the growing concern amongst citizens of the age and
00:04:35nature of those representing them,
00:04:37the issue will only become more prevalent.
00:04:39However,
00:04:42in order to amend the Constitution to include a
00:04:43maximum age of office holders,
00:04:45it will require the votes of those holding office.
00:04:47And it seems unlikely that the aging representatives and
00:04:50senators will be keen to vote themselves out of a job.
00:04:53
Cite this Lecture
APA style
Tatum, A. (2024, January 15). US Politics Digest – October 2023 - Aging Politicians [Video]. MASSOLIT. https://massolit.io/courses/us-politics-digest-october-2023
MLA style
Tatum, A. "US Politics Digest – October 2023 – Aging Politicians." MASSOLIT, uploaded by MASSOLIT, 15 Jan 2024, https://massolit.io/courses/us-politics-digest-october-2023