Jonah Patel
In 1992, the United States Constitution was amended to include the Twenty-seventh Amendment, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789. This amendment, which was first proposed in 1789, states that any changes to the salary of members of Congress can only come into effect after the next election of the House of Representatives. The amendment aims to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by giving the public an opportunity to remove members of Congress before their salaries increase.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Amendment | May 5, 1992 (or May 7, 1992) |
| Name of Amendment | Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII) |
| Other Names | Congressional Compensation Act of 1789 |
| Purpose | To reduce corruption in the legislative branch by requiring an election before a congressperson's salary increase takes effect |
| Number of States that Ratified the Amendment | 38 |
| Date of Certification | May 18, 1992 |
| Certifier | Don W. Wilson, Archivist of the United States |
| States that Did Not Ratify | Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, and Pennsylvania |
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What You'll Learn
The Twenty-seventh Amendment
The amendment states that any law that increases or decreases the salary of members of Congress can only take effect after the next election of the House of Representatives. The aim of this amendment was to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by allowing the public to remove members of Congress from office before their salaries increase.
In 1992, Michigan and New Jersey raced to become the 38th state to ratify the amendment. Michigan was faster, ratifying the amendment on May 7, 1992. However, it was later discovered that the Kentucky General Assembly had ratified the amendment during its initial month of statehood, making Alabama the state to finalize the amendment. On May 18, 1992, the Archivist of the United States, Don W. Wilson, certified that the amendment's ratification had been completed. On May 20, 1992, Congress declared the ratification to be legal and the amendment officially became part of the Constitution.
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Reducing corruption in the legislative branch
On May 5, 1992, the Twenty-seventh Amendment was added to the United States Constitution, aiming to reduce corruption in the legislative branch. The amendment states that any law that increases or decreases the salary of members of Congress may take effect only after the next election of the House of Representatives has occurred. This allows the public to remove members of Congress from office before their salaries increase.
While the amendment targets corruption in the legislative branch, there are other measures and strategies that can be implemented to further reduce corruption:
Strengthening Anti-Corruption Regimes
The INL (International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs) promotes integrity and accountability by establishing anti-corruption regimes. These regimes balance prevention and enforcement, empowering internal and external oversight. INL engages in diplomacy, funds capacity-building projects, and emphasizes the role of civil society, media, and businesses in combating corruption.
International Cooperation and Treaties
Corruption is increasingly transnational, requiring international cooperation to effectively address it. The United States has played a leading role in negotiating and implementing the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), which provides a comprehensive roadmap for reform. Through UNCAC and other treaties, the US promotes reforms in areas such as bribery, conflicts of interest, procurement, and judicial independence.
Economic Sanctions and Visa Restrictions
The US employs economic sanctions and visa restrictions to combat corruption. These measures expose corruption, block corrupt officials from accessing their illicit gains, and prevent them from visiting the US.
Strengthening Legal Frameworks and Investigative Capacities
Legal reforms alone are insufficient to combat corruption. It is essential to strengthen the capacity to implement and enforce these reforms. This includes enhancing the ability to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate corruption-related crimes, both domestically and through international cooperation.
Addressing Favorable Conditions for Corruption
Research suggests that certain conditions facilitate corruption, such as lacking freedom of information legislation, weak accounting practices, and a lack of investigative reporting in the media. By addressing these conditions and promoting transparency, accountability, and ethical practices, the risk of corruption can be mitigated.
Reforming Campaign Finance, Ethics, and Lobbying Laws
To crack down on corruption, it is essential to strengthen campaign finance regulations, ethics laws, and lobbying restrictions. This includes making elections more representative through ranked-choice voting and ending partisan gerrymandering to ensure that voters have a genuine choice and influence in politics.
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The Congressional Compensation Act of 1789
The Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII), commonly known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, was proposed by the first Congress in 1789 as one of 12 amendments. It states that any law that increases or decreases the salary of members of Congress may take effect only after the next election of the House of Representatives has occurred. The amendment aims to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by allowing the public to remove members of Congress from office before their salaries increase.
In 1982, the amendment gained renewed attention thanks to a research paper written by Gregory Watson, then a 19-year-old undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Austin. In his paper, Watson argued for the need to ratify the amendment to curtail political corruption. Watson's work sparked a nationwide campaign, and he spent $6,000 of his own money to further his efforts.
On May 5, 1992, Alabama became the 38th state to ratify the amendment, finalising its addition to the Constitution. The Archivist of the United States, Don W. Wilson, certified the amendment's ratification on May 18, 1992, and it was published in the Federal Register the following day. The Twenty-seventh Amendment, though one of the first proposed, is the most recently adopted amendment to the United States Constitution.
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The role of the Archivist of the United States
In 1992, the United States Constitution was amended after the addition of the Twenty-seventh Amendment, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789. This amendment aimed to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by requiring an election before a congressperson's salary increase.
The Archivist of the United States plays a crucial role in the amendment process and the preservation of historical records. The Archivist is the head and chief administrator of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). They are responsible for supervising and directing the National Archives, which involves preserving and providing access to government records. This includes documents, photographs, maps, films, and computer records. The Archivist also maintains custody of significant documents, such as state ratifications of amendments to the Constitution and joint resolutions and acts of Congress signed into law by the President. In the case of the Twenty-seventh Amendment, the Archivist, Don W. Wilson, certified that the amendment's ratification had been completed by the required number of states. This certification was published in the Federal Register, officially adding the amendment to the Constitution.
The Archivist of the United States is appointed by the President and serves as the head of the agency. They work with a team of dedicated professionals, including archives specialists, technicians, conservators, and records managers, to ensure the proper preservation and accessibility of historical records. The current Archivist, Dr. Colleen J. Shogan, is the 11th Archivist and the first woman appointed to this position. She has prioritized expanding the reach of the National Archives to engage a wider audience and enhance public participation in the nation's democracy.
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The states involved in the ratification
The Twenty-seventh Amendment, or the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, was ratified by 38 states in 1992, more than 200 years after it was first proposed. The amendment requires that any law that increases or decreases the salary of members of Congress may take effect only after the next election of the House of Representatives has occurred.
The first six states to ratify the amendment were Virginia, Ohio, Wyoming, Kentucky, Maine, and Colorado. Michigan became the 38th state to ratify the amendment on May 7, 1992, followed by New Jersey. However, it was later discovered that Kentucky had ratified the amendment during its initial month of statehood, making Alabama the final state to ratify the amendment.
Four states have not ratified the Twenty-seventh Amendment: Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, and Pennsylvania.
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Frequently asked questions
The 27th Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, states that any law that increases or decreases the salary of members of Congress may take effect only after the next election of the House of Representatives has occurred.
The Archivist of the United States, Don W. Wilson, certified that the amendment's ratification had been completed on May 18, 1992.
The idea behind the 27th Amendment is to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by requiring an election before a congressperson's salary increase takes effect.
Michigan and New Jersey were the last states to ratify the 27th Amendment, doing so on May 7, 1992, and May 18, 1992, respectively.
