Congressional term limits.
2 terms of 2 years each. 1 6 year senate term.
No lifelong benefits or retirement pay. Do your job and go home.
The problem we face is bureaucratic despotism. Through term limits on elected representatives we'd just be empowering the bureaucrats at the expense of our own representation. The Dems have already proven that term limits matter little when you control the bureaucracy, look at California. Effectively the government has been permanently ceded an disproportionate stake in it's own guidance.
What will really make a difference is limits on the lifetime of laws and regulations, and a requirement that laws and regulations be regularly put to the vote for continued existence. Similarly effective would be ineligibility of public (elected or appointed) office for government workers and vice versa. The target is breaking the cycle of government empowerment.
Another thing is to put an end to foreign meddling in our government affairs. Lobbyists, campaign support, etc. Doesn't matter how benign we think it is, state or federal, it's all about suborning the legitimacy of the government for foreign interests. I would go so far as to say anyone who decides to "go government" must be officially held to a higher standard, not a lower standard (so no evading speeding tickets or immunity from insider trading laws). You want your private life? Resign and it's all yours after a suitable waiting period.
I don't think it would hurt to have a larger house of representatives - that way we'd have more accountable people to do the work of overseeing the government to offset the vast body of unelected, unaccountable people currently doing the job. We should probably limit congressional staff too so only elected representatives are doing the job they applied for. No fair putting a figurehead in the legislature and supporting them with a taxpayer funded staff. In fact, States should probably be responsible for supporting their own congressional delegations.
Some of what I've suggested should also apply to state and local governments.
And make them true public servants - no pay.
Or put them on straight commission, they get to keep a tiny percentage of whatever they cut out of the budget. Then put CSPAN on pay per view, folks would pay to watch that circus.
Oh, and for healthcare they get to sign up for Obummercare.