Eleanor Finch
The topic of salary for members of the United States Congress has been a subject of debate since the country's early years. While the U.S. Constitution does not specify a set salary amount, it does establish that senators and representatives are to be compensated for their services, with pay coming from the Treasury of the United States. The amount of this compensation is to be determined by law and has evolved over time, with Congress historically setting specific rates of pay. The issue of congressional pay continues to be a matter of discussion, with arguments made for and against salary increases for members of Congress.
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution states that Congress members' salaries are set by congressional legislation
- Congress members' salaries are paid from the US Treasury
- Salaries vary between the House of Representatives and the Senate
- Congress members' salaries are subject to an automatic increase each year
- Congress has voted against accepting the increase in salary since 2010
The US Constitution states that Congress members' salaries are set by congressional legislation
The US Constitution does indeed specify that Congress members' salaries are to be set by congressional legislation. This is known as the Compensation Clause of Article I, Section 6, Clause 1. The Framers of the Constitution decided that members of Congress should be paid from the federal treasury, with the amount set by Congress itself. This was a departure from the Articles of Confederation, the previous constitution, under which members of Congress received varying salaries from their individual states.
The Framers' decision was driven by a concern that state frugality in compensating members of Congress could reduce the pool of candidates. As George Mason of Virginia commented during the Constitutional Convention:
> [T]he parsimony of the States might reduce the provision so low that ... the question would be not who were most fit to be chosen, but who were most willing to serve.
The Framers also believed that members of Congress worked for the nation as a whole and should be compensated accordingly. The Twenty-seventh Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1992, further specifies that no law affecting the compensation of members of Congress can take effect until after the next election.
Despite the Constitution's provisions, the topic of congressional salary increases has been historically controversial. Since 2010, Congress has voted annually to reject an automatic increase in salary, keeping it at the same nominal amount since 2009.
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Congress members' salaries are paid from the US Treasury
The salaries of Congress members are paid from the US Treasury, as outlined in the US Constitution. The Framers of the Constitution decided that Members of Congress should be compensated by the federal government, reflecting their view that Members of Congress work for the nation as a whole. This decision was influenced by concerns that state frugality in compensating Members of Congress could reduce the pool of qualified candidates.
The Twenty-seventh Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1992, addresses compensation for Members of Congress. It states that no law affecting compensation for Senators and Representatives shall take effect until after the next election. This amendment ensures that any changes in compensation for Members of Congress are subject to electoral accountability.
The Compensation Clause of Article I, Section 6, Clause 1 of the Constitution provides for the national government to compensate Members of Congress for their services. The amount of compensation is set by congressional legislation and is subject to adjustment. The Government Ethics Reform Act of 1989 provides for an automatic annual increase in salary as a cost-of-living adjustment. However, since 2009, Congress has voted to reject this increase, maintaining the same nominal salary.
The salary of Members of Congress is a contentious issue. Some argue that increasing the salary would make the position more accessible to individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. It is also argued that higher salaries could reduce the influence of bribes and make Congress members less susceptible to corruption. On the other hand, proposals to raise congressional salaries are often met with public disapproval and are seen as a form of corruption.
In addition to their salaries, Members of Congress with at least five years of service are eligible for generous pension benefits. These benefits can be two to three times higher than those offered in the private sector and are determined based on factors such as length of service and highest salary years.
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Salaries vary between the House of Representatives and the Senate
The salaries of Congress members have been a topic of debate since the 19th century. The Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1992, prohibits any law affecting the compensation of Congress members from taking effect until after the next election.
The Constitution's authors provided that congressional salaries would come from the federal treasury, with Congress setting the actual amount. The House of Representatives initially formed a committee to draft congressional pay legislation, recommending a six-dollar rate for each day a member attended a session. Representative James Madison, the Constitution's principal architect, proposed that senators be paid more than representatives, but the House ignored this suggestion and accepted the six-dollar rate for both chambers.
For the next 187 years, members of both houses received the same rate of pay. However, in 1983, the House members received a higher salary than senators for a few months. Since 2009, the salaries of rank-and-file legislators serving in the US Congress have remained at $174,000 annually, as Congress has voted against accepting the cost-of-living increase. Leaders of the House and Senate are typically paid a higher salary than other members.
Arguments have been made that increasing the salary for members of Congress would make the position more accessible to people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and reduce the influence of bribes from lobbyists. However, the public often frowns upon discussions of congressional salary increases, perceiving them as a form of corruption.
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Congress members' salaries are subject to an automatic increase each year
The topic of salaries for Congress members has been a point of discussion since the drafting of the US Constitution. The Framers of the Constitution avoided specifying a fair salary for members of the Senate, and instead, left it to Congress to set the amount. The Constitution does, however, state that members of Congress shall be compensated for their services, and that this compensation shall be paid out of the US Treasury.
The Government Ethics Reform Act of 1989 provides for an automatic increase in Congress members' salaries each year as a cost-of-living adjustment that reflects the employment cost index. This is calculated using a formula based on certain elements of the Employment Cost Index (ECI). Despite this, since 2010, Congress has voted against accepting the increase, and the salary has remained at the same nominal amount since 2009.
The Twenty-seventh Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1992, prohibits any law affecting compensation from taking effect until after the next election. This amendment was proposed by James Madison in 1789, and it was intended to prevent members of Congress from passing laws to increase their own salaries without an election occurring first.
There has been a long-standing debate around raising congressional salaries. When Congress members suggest increasing their salaries, this is generally frowned upon by the public and seen as a form of corruption. However, some argue that increasing congressional salaries would make the position more accessible to people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and reduce the effectiveness of bribes from lobbyists.
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Congress has voted against accepting the increase in salary since 2010
The United States Constitution's Compensation Clause of Article I, Section 6, Clause 1, provides for the national government to compensate Members of Congress for their services. This was to ensure that Members of Congress were paid from the Treasury of the United States, reflecting the Framers' view that Members of Congress worked for the nation as a whole. The Framers of the Constitution avoided explicitly stating what a fair salary for a Member of Congress would be, instead allowing Congress to set the amount.
Since 2010, Congress has voted against accepting an increase in salary. The Government Ethics Reform Act of 1989 provides for an automatic increase in salary each year as a cost-of-living adjustment that reflects the employment cost index. However, Congress has voted annually to keep salaries at the nominal amount since 2009. This is despite the fact that many members of Congress continue to advocate for a salary raise, arguing that it would make the position more accessible to people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and reduce the effectiveness of bribes from lobbyists.
The Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1992, prohibits any law affecting compensation from taking effect until after the next election. This means that any congressional legislation varying the level of Members' compensation may not take effect until an intervening election has occurred.
Historically, there has been much debate around raising congressional salaries. When Congress members raise the topic of salary increases, this is generally frowned upon by the public and seen as a form of corruption. This perception of corruption has been a long-standing issue, with members of Congress often facing a Catch-22 situation where not raising the issue risks capable individuals being priced out of running for office, while raising it risks a backlash from the public.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, according to the US Constitution, members of Congress are to receive compensation for their services, which is paid out of the US Treasury.
From the founding to 1967, Congress determined its own pay by setting specific rates of pay. Since 1967, a quadrennial commission has been responsible for proposing salary levels for top officials, including Congress members.
Yes, there has been debate since the 19th century. Many members of Congress continue to advocate for a salary raise. However, when Congress members raise the topic of salary increases, it is generally frowned upon by the public and seen as a form of corruption.
It is argued that an increased salary for members of Congress would make the position more accessible, especially for people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. It is also argued that a higher income would make Congress members less susceptible to corruption, as bribes from lobbyists and PACS would be less effective.
Yes, the Twenty-seventh Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1992, prohibits any law affecting compensation from taking effect until after the next election. This means that congressional legislation varying the level of legislators' pay may not take effect until an intervening election has occurred.
