Eleanor Finch
The Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution was certified on May 18, 1992, by the Archivist of the United States, Don W. Wilson. The amendment, originally proposed on September 25, 1789, was designed to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by requiring an election before a congressperson's salary increase. This amendment was one of several proposed by Representative James Madison of Virginia, and it finally came into effect after being ratified by the requisite 38 states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Amendment | Twenty-seventh Amendment |
| Date of Ratification | May 7, 1992 |
| Date of Certification | May 18, 1992 |
| Purpose | To reduce corruption in the legislative branch |
| Method | By requiring an election before a congressperson's salary increase |
| Number of States that Ratified | 38 |
| States that Did Not Ratify | Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, and Pennsylvania |
| Original Proposal Date | June 8, 1789 (by Rep. James Madison of Virginia) |
| Other | Also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Twenty-seventh Amendment
In 1992, the Twenty-seventh Amendment was made to the United States Constitution. This amendment was first proposed in 1789, over 200 years before its ratification.
Over the next two centuries, the amendment was largely forgotten, with only six states voting for ratification by 1873. However, in 1978, Wyoming ratified the amendment, and in 1982, a student's undergraduate research paper sparked a movement to ratify the amendment and curb political corruption. By 1992, 38 states had ratified the amendment, and it was certified by the Archivist of the United States, Don W. Wilson, on May 18, 1992.
Amending the Constitution: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Reducing corruption in the legislative branch
In 1992, the Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified. This amendment aimed to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by addressing the salaries of congresspersons. Here are some measures that this amendment and other mechanisms put forth to reduce corruption in the legislative branch:
The Twenty-seventh Amendment
The Twenty-seventh Amendment, which was certified in May 1992, requires that any change to the compensation of members of Congress can only take effect after the next election of Representatives. This amendment, originally proposed in 1789, gives the public the power to hold Congress accountable by allowing them to remove members of Congress from office before their salaries increase. By requiring an election before a salary increase takes effect, this amendment helps reduce the potential for corruption and ensures that congressional salaries are subject to the approval of the people.
Transparency and Disclosure
Transparency is a key mechanism for reducing corruption. Legislative bodies should implement robust transparency measures, such as publicly disclosing financial interests, campaign contributions, and lobbying activities. Making this information easily accessible to the public helps hold legislators accountable and discourages corrupt practices.
Strong Ethics Rules and Enforcement
Legislative bodies should establish clear and stringent ethics rules that define prohibited behaviours, such as bribery, conflict of interest, and the misuse of public funds. These rules should be coupled with robust enforcement mechanisms, including independent oversight bodies, to investigate and sanction any breaches. Strong ethics rules and effective enforcement help deter corruption and promote integrity within the legislative branch.
Public Engagement and Oversight
Encouraging public engagement and oversight is crucial in reducing corruption. Legislative bodies should provide avenues for public participation, such as public hearings, consultations, and petitions. By actively involving citizens in the legislative process, it becomes more challenging for corrupt practices to go unnoticed or unchallenged. Public engagement also helps to hold legislators accountable and ensures that they act in the best interests of their constituents.
Independent Anti-Corruption Agencies
Establishing independent anti-corruption agencies with investigative and prosecutorial powers can provide specialized resources and expertise to combat corruption within the legislative branch. These agencies can receive and investigate complaints, initiate investigations, and collaborate with law enforcement to prosecute legislative officials who engage in corrupt practices. Their independence from political influence ensures impartiality and strengthens the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts.
Robust Whistleblower Protections
Legislative bodies should enact strong whistleblower protection laws to encourage and protect individuals who report corruption or misconduct within the legislative branch. Whistleblowers play a crucial role in exposing wrongdoing, and effective protections can include anonymity, legal protection from retaliation, and secure reporting mechanisms. By providing a safe environment for whistleblowers, legislative bodies can encourage the disclosure of corrupt practices without fear of reprisal.
The Amendments: Our Constitutional Rights
You may want to see also
Congressperson's salary increase
The 27th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which was certified on May 18, 1992, addresses the issue of Congresspersons' salary increases. This amendment, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, states that any changes to the compensation of members of Congress can only take effect after the next election of the House of Representatives. In other words, while Congress has the power to increase or decrease their own salaries, these changes will not come into effect until after the next election, ensuring that the public has a say in the matter through their votes.
The history of this amendment is quite intriguing. It was initially proposed by Representative James Madison of Virginia on June 8, 1789, along with several other amendments. However, it lay dormant for over 200 years as it did not have enough states ratify it. During this period, Congress experimented with different compensation methods, including per diem rates and salary structures, with some attempts facing public outrage and repeal.
The 27th Amendment gained traction again in the late 20th century due to the efforts of Gregory Watson, a student at the University of Texas at Austin. In 1982, Watson wrote a research paper arguing that the states could still ratify the amendment, even though it had been proposed over 200 years earlier. Watson's paper sparked a movement, and he campaigned nationwide to gain support for the amendment's ratification. By 1991, the salary of U.S. Senators and Representatives had reached $125,100 per year, and public resentment towards congressional pay raises was growing.
On May 5, 1992, the requisite 38 states had ratified the amendment, and it was certified by the Archivist of the United States on May 18, 1992, more than 202 years after its original proposal. This certification faced some controversy, as Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia criticised the Archivist for deviating from the "historic tradition" of waiting for congressional approval. Nonetheless, the 27th Amendment became a part of the Constitution, aiming to reduce corruption and give the public a say in Congresspersons' salary increases.
The First Amendment: A Constitutional Journey
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Ratification by 38 states
The 27th Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, was ratified by 38 states in 1992, more than 202 years after its original proposal.
The amendment requires that any changes to the compensation of members of Congress can only take effect after the subsequent election of the House of Representatives. In other words, there must be an election before a congressperson's salary increase takes effect, allowing the public to remove members of Congress from office before their salaries increase.
The long delay in the ratification of the 27th Amendment was due to the absence of a time limit for its ratification by the states. For almost 80 years, only six states had voted for ratification: Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, and Wyoming. In 1982, a student at the University of Texas at Austin, Gregory Watson, wrote a paper arguing that the amendment could still be ratified, which became the foundation for a nationwide campaign to complete its ratification.
On May 5, 1992, the requisite 38 states had ratified the amendment, with Michigan believed to be the 38th state 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 38th state on May 5, 1992. The amendment was certified by the Archivist of the United States, Don W. Wilson, on May 18, 1992, and officially became part of the Constitution.
Reconstruction Amendments: Shaping Post-Civil War America
You may want to see also
Congressional Compensation Act of 1789
On May 7, 1992, the Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified. This amendment, commonly known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, was originally proposed on June 8, 1789, by Representative James Madison of Virginia. Madison intended for it to be added to the end of Article I, Section 6, Clause 1 of the Constitution, which states that "The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States".
The Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, or the Twenty-seventh Amendment, states that any law that increases or decreases the salary of members of Congress may only take effect after the next election of the House of Representatives has occurred. In other words, it requires an election before a congressperson's salary increase or decrease takes effect. The public can thus remove members of Congress from office before their salaries change. This amendment aims to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by giving the people a say in any variation of congressional compensation.
The Twenty-seventh Amendment was one of the first proposed amendments, along with 11 other proposed amendments (Articles I-XII), submitted to the states for ratification on September 25, 1789. The last ten Articles were ratified in 1791 to become the Bill of Rights, but the Twenty-seventh Amendment and the proposed Congressional Apportionment Amendment were not ratified by enough states to come into force at that time. The Congressional Compensation Act of 1789 was initially ratified by seven states through 1792, including Kentucky, but it was largely forgotten and lay dormant for almost 80 years until 1873 when Ohio ratified it in protest of an unpopular Congressional pay raise.
In 1978, the Wyoming Legislature also ratified the article, and in 1982, a student at the University of Texas at Austin named Gregory Watson wrote a paper on the subject for a government class, claiming that the amendment was still pending. This sparked a nationwide campaign to complete its ratification, and by May 5, 1992, the requisite 38 states had ratified the amendment. On May 18, 1992, the Archivist of the United States, Don W. Wilson, certified that the amendment's ratification had been completed, and it officially became part of the United States Constitution.
Amending the Constitution: How Frequently Does It Happen?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Twenty-seventh Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified in 1992.
The amendment was intended to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by requiring an election before a congressperson's salary increase takes effect.
"No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened."
Representative James Madison of Virginia proposed that the amendment be added to the end of Article I, Section 6, Clause 1 of the Constitution, which states: "The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States."
