Eleanor Finch
The Twenty-seventh Amendment, or Amendment XXVII, is the most recent amendment to the United States Constitution. It was ratified in 1992, but it was first proposed in 1789, making it unique for the time span between its proposal and ratification. The amendment, 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.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII) |
| Other Names | Congressional Compensation Act of 1789 |
| Year Proposed | 1789 |
| Year Ratified | 1992 |
| Proposer | Representative James Madison of Virginia |
| Purpose | To reduce corruption in the legislative branch by requiring an election before a congressperson's salary increase takes effect |
| Text | No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened |
| Number of States that Ratified | 11 (Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, Ohio, Wyoming, Kentucky, Maine, Colorado) |
| Time Between Proposal and Ratification | 203 years |
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What You'll Learn
The Twenty-seventh Amendment to the US Constitution
The Twenty-seventh Amendment was intended to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by allowing the public to remove members of Congress from office before their salaries increase. It provides that:
> "No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened."
Despite being one of the first proposed amendments, it was largely forgotten until 1982, when Gregory Watson, a 19-year-old student at the University of Texas at Austin, wrote a paper for a government class arguing that there was no time limit on when it could be ratified. Watson then launched a campaign to get the amendment ratified, and it gained traction in 1983 and 1984, with Maine and Colorado becoming the first new states to ratify the amendment in direct response to his campaign.
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Reducing corruption in the legislative branch
The Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, is the most recently adopted amendment. 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. This amendment aims to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by giving the public an opportunity to remove members of Congress from office before their salaries increase.
While this amendment was one of the first proposed, it was not ratified by enough states to come into force for over two hundred years. The long gap between its proposal and ratification gives the Twenty-seventh Amendment a unique place in American history. The amendment was initially forgotten, but in 1982, a University of Texas at Austin student, Gregory Watson, wrote a paper arguing that the amendment was still relevant and could be ratified. Watson then launched a campaign to garner support for the amendment, and it was finally ratified in 1992.
The Twenty-seventh Amendment demonstrates the importance of addressing corruption in the legislative branch. Corruption can undermine the democratic process, erode public trust in government, and lead to inefficient and ineffective policies. It is essential to have mechanisms in place to prevent, detect, and address corruption in the legislative branch.
One way to reduce corruption is to increase transparency and accountability. This can be achieved through measures such as disclosing financial interests, lobbying activities, and campaign donations. Strong ethics rules and enforcement mechanisms are also necessary to ensure that legislators act in the public interest rather than for personal gain.
Additionally, independent oversight bodies can play a crucial role in reducing corruption. These bodies can investigate allegations of misconduct, enforce ethics rules, and recommend disciplinary action when violations occur. A well-functioning legislative branch with robust internal controls and a commitment to integrity can help prevent corruption and promote good governance.
Public education and engagement are also essential components of combating corruption. Educating the public about their rights and responsibilities, as well as the functions and processes of the legislative branch, can empower citizens to hold their representatives accountable. Encouraging public participation in the legislative process, such as through town hall meetings and public hearings, can also help to reduce corruption and improve government responsiveness.
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Congressional Compensation Act of 1789
The Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII) to the United States Constitution, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, was proposed by the first Congress in 1789 along with eleven other amendments. It was submitted to the states for ratification on September 25, 1789, but it was not ratified until May 7, 1992.
The Act 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.
The Congressional Compensation Act of 1789 was one of several proposed amendments to the Constitution that Representative James Madison of Virginia introduced in the House of Representatives on June 8, 1789. Madison intended for the amendment 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." Madison's proposals were referred to a committee consisting of one representative from each state. After passing through the committee and the full House, the proposal was sent to the Senate, which made 26 alterations. On September 9, 1789, the Senate approved a package of 12 articles of amendment, including the Congressional Compensation Act.
The Congressional Compensation Act of 1789 was initially ratified by seven states through 1792 (including Kentucky), but it was not ratified by another state for eighty years. 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 for a government class arguing that the amendment could still be ratified. Watson's paper sparked a nationwide movement, and he spent $6,000 of his own money to sponsor the effort. In 1983, Watson discovered that Ohio had approved the amendment in 1873 as a protest against the Salary Grab Act, and in 1984 he learned that Wyoming had ratified the amendment in 1978 as a protest against a congressional pay raise.
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The long road to ratification
The 27th Amendment, or 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. It was one of the first proposed amendments, along with 11 others, submitted to the states for ratification on September 25, 1789.
The 27th Amendment had a long and unconventional journey to ratification. It was initially proposed by Representative James Madison of Virginia in the House of Representatives on June 8, 1789. Madison's original intent was that it be added to the end of Article I, Section 6, Clause 1 of the Constitution, which states that senators and representatives shall receive compensation for their services. After passing the House, the proposal went to the Senate, which made 26 substantive alterations. On September 9, 1789, the Senate approved a package of 12 articles of amendment. A House-Senate conference committee then convened to resolve differences between the House and Senate proposals, and on September 24, 1789, the committee issued its report finalizing 12 proposed amendments. The House and Senate agreed to the report on September 25, 1789, and the proposals were sent to the states for their consideration.
Of the 12 proposed amendments, 10 were ratified 27 months later in 1791 to become the Bill of Rights. However, the 27th Amendment and the Congressional Apportionment Amendment were not ratified by enough states to come into force at that time. The 27th Amendment was ratified by seven states through 1792, but it would be 80 years before another state ratified it. In 1873, Ohio approved the amendment as a means of protesting the Salary Grab Act, and Wyoming followed suit in 1978 to protest a congressional pay raise.
The proposed amendment was largely forgotten until 1982, when Gregory Watson, a 19-year-old student at the University of Texas at Austin, wrote a paper for a government class arguing that the amendment could still be ratified. Watson received a C grade for his paper, but he was convinced that it deserved a better grade, so he decided to take the issue to the country. He initiated a letter-writing campaign to state legislatures, and his movement gained traction and media attention nationwide. By 1992, three-quarters of the states had reached the necessary consensus as laid out in Article V of the Constitution to legitimize the 27th Amendment. The amendment finally became part of the United States Constitution on May 5, 1992, more than two centuries after it was first proposed.
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The amendment's impact and legacy
The Twenty-seventh Amendment, or the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, is the most recent amendment to the United States Constitution. It 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.
The Amendments Impact and Legacy
The Twenty-seventh Amendment was proposed to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by allowing the public to remove members of Congress from office before their salaries increase. It was one of the first amendments proposed, but it was not ratified until 1992, making it unique in the span of time between its proposal and ratification.
The amendment's impact on congressional behaviour is unclear. While it has faced little litigation, federal courts have determined that it does not affect cost-of-living adjustments issued by Congress. This means that while pay rates for Congress members cannot be changed until after general elections, fluctuations to meet cost-of-living requirements are exempt.
The Twenty-seventh Amendment also stands out for the lobbying campaign that brought it back into public consciousness. In 1982, University of Texas student Gregory Watson wrote a paper arguing that the amendment was still relevant and could be ratified. Unsatisfied with the grade he received, Watson launched a letter-writing campaign to state legislatures. He discovered that several states had already ratified the amendment at different times, some as a protest against congressional acts that raised pay rates for officials. Watson's campaign gained traction, and Maine and Colorado became the first new states to ratify the amendment in response to his efforts.
The Twenty-seventh Amendment demonstrates the enduring relevance of the United States Constitution's founding principles and the power of citizen activism in shaping the nation's laws. It highlights the importance of checks and balances in government and the role of individuals like Gregory Watson in holding elected officials accountable.
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Frequently asked questions
The last amendment is the Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII) to the United States Constitution, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789.
The Twenty-seventh 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 ratified on May 7, 1992.
The Twenty-seventh Amendment is unique for the time span between its creation and its ratification. It was proposed in 1789 but was not ratified until 1992.
