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The most recent amendment to the US Constitution is the Twenty-seventh Amendment, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789. It was proposed by Representative James Madison of Virginia in 1789 and finally ratified in 1992. 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 amendment was designed to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by allowing the public to remove members of Congress from office before their salaries increase.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII) |
| Other names | Congressional Compensation Act of 1789 |
| Purpose | Reduce corruption in the legislative branch |
| Mechanism | Require an election before a congressperson's salary increase takes effect |
| Ratification date | May 5, 1992 |
| Number of states required for ratification | 38 |
| Number of states that ratified | 7 by 1792, 10 in total |
| States that ratified | Kentucky, Ohio, Wyoming, and Virginia |
| Proposer | Representative James Madison of Virginia |
| Date proposed | June 8, 1789 |
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What You'll Learn
The Twenty-seventh Amendment
The amendment was controversial, and its ratification was challenged on constitutional grounds. Some scholars argued that there was never a "magic moment" of consensus between Congress and the states due to the changing political landscape between 1789 and 1992. However, others defended the ratification, citing the text of Article V, which only requires the approval of two-thirds of both Houses of Congress and three-quarters of the states, a process fulfilled in 1789 and 1992, respectively.
Despite the objections, the Twenty-seventh Amendment was certified as legally ratified by the Archivist of the United States in 1992, and Congress declared it a valid part of the Constitution. This amendment stands as a unique example of a long-forgotten proposal being revived and enacted into law over two centuries after its initial proposal.
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Reducing corruption in Congress
The most recent amendment to the US Constitution is the Twenty-seventh Amendment, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789. This amendment was proposed by Representative James Madison of Virginia and passed by the House of Representatives on June 8, 1789. It was finally ratified and adopted on May 5, 1992, after a prolonged period of inactivity. The amendment's purpose is to reduce corruption in Congress by requiring an election before any increase in a congressperson's salary takes effect.
While the Twenty-seventh Amendment aims to reduce corruption in Congress, there are other proposed amendments and bills that also seek to address this issue. Here are some additional measures that have been suggested:
Term Limits Amendment
This proposed amendment seeks to establish term limits for members of the House of Representatives and senators. It would impose a three-term limit for representatives and a two-term limit for senators. Term limits are a common method to prevent the concentration of power and reduce the potential for corruption.
TRUST in Congress Act
This bill proposes prohibiting members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from owning or trading stocks while the member is in office. The only exception would be through a qualified blind trust. This measure aims to reduce the potential for conflicts of interest and ensure that members of Congress are acting in the public's best interest rather than their personal financial gain.
Stop Foreign Payoffs Act
This bill addresses the issue of foreign influence by banning members of Congress, the president, vice president, Cabinet secretaries, and their close family members from earning a salary or holding investments in foreign businesses while in office. This helps to ensure that US officials are not influenced by foreign entities and are working solely for the benefit of the American people.
Crack Down on Dark Money Act
This bill targets the influence of mega-donors and secret political contributions. It aims to reduce the cap on political activity by 501(c)(4) nonprofits from 50% to 10% of their total spending. Additionally, it requires these nonprofits to disclose all donors who contribute $5,000 or more if they engage in any political spending. This bill increases transparency and prevents the concentration of power in the hands of a few wealthy individuals or organizations.
Consistent Labeling for Political Ads Act
This proposed legislation increases transparency in online political advertising by requiring social media platforms to make ad labels "sticky". This means that labels identifying political ads would be persistent and clearly visible to users. This measure helps voters identify the sources of political advertisements and prevents the spread of misinformation.
Combating Global Corruption Act of 2025
This bill focuses on addressing corruption in foreign governments. It mandates the Department of State to annually publish a ranking of foreign countries based on their efforts to eliminate corruption. The bill defines corruption as the "unlawful exercise of entrusted public power for private gain," including bribery, nepotism, fraud, or embezzlement. This legislation encourages foreign countries to adopt measures to prevent and criminalize corruption, adhering to international agreements such as the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
These proposed amendments and bills demonstrate a continued effort to reduce corruption in Congress and improve the integrity of the US political system. While the Twenty-seventh Amendment was the most recent addition to the Constitution, these other measures showcase the ongoing work towards good governance and accountability.
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The Congressional Compensation Act of 1789
The Twenty-seventh Amendment, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, is the most recent amendment to the United States Constitution. It was first proposed in 1789, along with 11 other amendments, but it was not ratified until 1992.
The proposal then moved to the Senate, which made 26 substantive alterations. On September 9, 1789, the Senate approved a consolidated package of 12 articles of amendment. A House-Senate conference committee was convened to resolve differences between the House and Senate proposals, and on September 25, 1789, they finalized 12 proposed amendments for the states to consider. Ten of these amendments were ratified 27 months later and became the Bill of Rights.
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Ratification by three-fourths of states
The process of amending the US Constitution is outlined in Article V of the Constitution. An amendment can be proposed by Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the state legislatures. Once an amendment is proposed by Congress, it is sent to the states for ratification.
To be ratified, an amendment must be approved by three-fourths of the states (38 out of 50 states). This can be achieved through the legislatures of three-fourths of the states or state ratifying conventions in three-fourths of the states. Once an amendment is ratified by the required number of states, it becomes an official part of the Constitution.
The most recent amendment to the US Constitution is the Twenty-seventh Amendment, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789. It 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 Twenty-seventh Amendment was first proposed in 1789, along with 11 other amendments, but it was not ratified by enough states at that time.
The amendment was largely forgotten until 1982 when Gregory Watson, a 19-year-old student at the University of Texas at Austin, wrote a paper arguing for its completion. Watson then launched a nationwide campaign to gain the necessary state ratifications. By 1992, the amendment had been ratified by 38 states and was certified by the Archivist of the United States as the Twenty-seventh Amendment to the Constitution.
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The first ten amendments
The most recent amendment to the US Constitution is the Twenty-seventh Amendment, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789.
The First Amendment provides several rights protections, including the freedom of speech and the press, the right to assemble and gather with a group, and the right to ask the government to fix problems. It also protects the right to religious beliefs and practices and prevents the government from creating or favoring a religion.
The Second Amendment states that "a well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." The Third Amendment states that no soldier shall be quartered in any house without the owner's consent, even during war.
The Fourth Amendment safeguards citizens' right to privacy, protecting them from unreasonable government intrusion into their homes and requiring a warrant for any searches or seizures. The Tenth Amendment specifies that any powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution are reserved for the states or the people. These first ten amendments, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, form the foundation for many of the civil liberties and rights enjoyed by Americans today.
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Frequently asked questions
The Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII), also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, is the most recent amendment to the US Constitution.
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.
The Twenty-seventh Amendment was proposed in 1789 but did not come into effect until May 5, 1992.
