Omar Bennett
The last amendment to the US Constitution, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, was proposed in 1789, but it was not ratified until 1992. This amendment, the 27th 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. The first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amendment Number | 27 |
| Name | Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII), Congressional Compensation Act of 1789 |
| Date Proposed | September 25, 1789 |
| Date Ratified | May 5, 1992 |
| 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 |
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What You'll Learn
The Twenty-seventh Amendment
As of 2022, 46 states have ratified the Twenty-seventh Amendment, while four have not: Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, and Pennsylvania. The amendment's unusual ratification process has sparked debate among scholars, with some questioning its legality due to the lack of simultaneous approval from Congress and the states. However, proponents argue that the text of Article V only requires the approval of two-thirds of both Houses of Congress and three-quarters of the states, which was ultimately achieved.
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Reducing corruption in Congress
The United States Constitution has seen 27 amendments, the last of which is the Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII), also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789. This amendment was established to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by requiring an election before a congressperson's salary increase takes effect. While this amendment aimed to address corruption in Congress, there are several other measures that can be implemented to further reduce corruption and increase accountability.
One approach to reducing corruption in Congress is to establish an independent ethics committee focused on the Senate. The current system of self-policing within the Senate has been ineffective, with a high rate of dismissed complaints and a lack of transparency. An independent ethics committee, such as the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) in the House of Representatives, would be responsible for conducting thorough investigations and ensuring members prioritize the public interest over those of donors and special interests. This committee would increase accountability and help to enforce stronger ethics rules, reducing the occurrence of unethical behavior.
Additionally, legislative agendas such as the End Corruption Now agenda aim to confront political corruption and restore integrity to the government. This agenda includes bills that target conflicts of interest, such as banning members of Congress from trading stocks or serving on corporate boards. It also strengthens anti-corruption laws and protects government watchdogs from being influenced or manipulated. By preventing members of Congress from personally benefiting from their offices, this legislative agenda seeks to put power back in the hands of the American people.
Furthermore, addressing the issue of lobbying and revolving doors between government and private interests is crucial. Implementing bans or lifetime bans on members of Congress from becoming lobbyists can help reduce the influence of special interests and ensure that policies are made with the public's best interests in mind. Strengthening financial disclosure requirements and increasing transparency around campaign contributions can also shed light on potential conflicts of interest and reduce opportunities for corruption.
To supplement these measures, increasing public awareness and engagement is essential. Educating the public about the issues and encouraging participation in the political process can help hold elected officials accountable. By staying informed, voting, and actively engaging with their representatives, citizens can play a vital role in reducing corruption and promoting good governance.
In conclusion, while the Twenty-seventh Amendment aimed to address corruption in Congress by regulating salary changes, additional measures are necessary to further reduce corruption. Establishing independent ethics committees, introducing comprehensive anti-corruption legislation, banning lobbying by former members of Congress, and increasing transparency and public engagement are all crucial steps towards a more honest and accountable political system.
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The Bill of Rights
The ten amendments that make up the Bill of Rights were ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures. The first Congress of the United States proposed twelve amendments to the Constitution on September 25, 1789. Ten of these amendments were ratified and became the Bill of Rights. The remaining two amendments, the Twenty-seventh Amendment, and the proposed Congressional Apportionment Amendment, were not initially ratified by enough states to come into force.
The Twenty-seventh Amendment, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, states that any law increasing or decreasing the salary of members of Congress can only take effect after the next election of the House of Representatives. This amendment was ratified in 1992, 203 years after it was first proposed. It was largely forgotten until 1982, when a student at the University of Texas at Austin wrote a paper claiming that it had already been ratified by enough states.
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Ratification
The last amendment to the United States Constitution, the Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII), was ratified on May 5, 1992. It was one of the first amendments proposed, along with 11 others, on September 25, 1789. However, it was not ratified by enough states to come into force until the 1990s.
The Twenty-seventh 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 only take effect after the next election of the House of Representatives. The purpose of this amendment is to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by allowing the public to remove members of Congress from office before their salaries increase.
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, ratified on December 15, 1791, make up what is known as the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights was written by James Madison to limit government power and protect individual liberties. For example, the First Amendment protects citizens' freedom of speech and religion, while the Fourth Amendment safeguards citizens' right to be free from unreasonable government intrusion in their homes.
After the Bill of Rights, numerous other amendments have been added to the Constitution over the years. These include Amendment XI, ratified on February 7, 1795, which modified Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution regarding the judicial power of the United States. Amendment XII, ratified in 1804, superseded a portion of Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution. Amendment XIII, ratified in 1868, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude within the United States.
The process of ratifying an amendment to the Constitution typically involves both Congress and the states. In the case of the Twenty-seventh Amendment, it was initially approved by seven states through 1792, but it was not until over two centuries later that it was ratified by enough states to become part of the Constitution. This long delay between the proposal and ratification of the amendment highlights the complex and lengthy process of constitutional reform in the United States.
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Congressional Compensation Act of 1789
The Twenty-seventh Amendment, commonly known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, is the most recently adopted amendment to the United States Constitution. It was one of the first amendments proposed and was submitted to the states for ratification on September 25, 1789, along with 11 other proposed amendments.
The Congressional Compensation Act of 1789 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. 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 initially proposed by Representative James Madison of Virginia 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 proposal was referred to a committee consisting of one representative from each state. After emerging from committee, the full House debated the issue and passed it, along with 16 other articles of amendment, on August 24, 1789. The proposals then went to the Senate, which made 26 substantive 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 submitted to the states for ratification along with 11 other proposed amendments. By 1792, the article had been ratified by seven states (including Kentucky), but it would be another 80 years before another state ratified the amendment. On May 6, 1873, the Ohio General Assembly ratified the amendment in protest of an unpopular Congressional pay raise. On March 6, 1978, the Wyoming Legislature also ratified the article. Despite these ratifications, the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789 was largely forgotten until 1982, when Gregory Watson, a 19-year-old undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Austin, wrote a paper on the subject for a political science course. Watson's paper sparked a nationwide campaign to complete the ratification of the amendment, and it eventually became part of the United States Constitution on May 5, 1992.
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Frequently asked questions
The last amendment to the US Constitution is the Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII), 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 became part of the United States Constitution on May 5, 1992.
The purpose of the Twenty-seventh Amendment was to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by allowing the public to remove members of Congress from office before their salaries increase.
