Omar Bennett
The latest amendment to the United States 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 amendment was first proposed in 1789 along with 11 other amendments, but it was not ratified until 1992, more than 200 years later. The Twenty-seventh Amendment aims 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), Congressional Compensation Act of 1789 |
| Description | No law varying the compensation for the services of Senators and Representatives shall take effect until an election of Representatives has intervened. |
| Date Proposed | September 25, 1789 |
| Date Ratified | May 19, 1992 |
| Number of Amendments | 27 |
| States That Have Not Ratified | Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, and Pennsylvania |
| Recent Proposed Amendment | Allowing the current President, Donald Trump, to run for a third term |
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What You'll Learn
The Twenty-seventh Amendment
The amendment was first proposed in 1789, along with 11 other amendments (Articles I-XII). Ten of these, Articles III-XII, were ratified in 1791 to become the Bill of Rights. The Twenty-seventh Amendment, however, was not ratified by enough states to come into force at that time. In fact, it took over 200 years for the amendment to be ratified, making it unique for the time span between its creation and its ratification.
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 ratification as a way to curtail political corruption. Watson's campaign gained traction in the early 1980s, with Maine and Colorado becoming the first new states to ratify the amendment in direct response. On May 7, 1992, Michigan became the thirty-eighth state to ratify the amendment, and on May 19, the Archivist of the United States certified that the amendment had been duly ratified.
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Congressional salaries
The 27th Amendment, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, addresses the issue of Congressional salaries. It states that any changes in the salary of members of Congress, whether an increase or decrease, can only take effect after the next election of the House of Representatives. In other words, senators and representatives have the power to adjust their compensation, but these changes will not come into effect until after the next election.
The history of the 27th Amendment spans over two centuries, from the Colonial Era to the 1990s. The original Constitution, which took effect in 1789, did not include any provisions preventing federal laws that altered Members' compensation from becoming operative before the next congressional election. This meant that Congress had the power to set its own pay without the need for an intervening election.
Recognizing this as a potential flaw, several state conventions that met to consider the Constitution's ratification recommended amendments to address concerns about Congress's ability to abuse this power. James Madison, a Virginia congressman, introduced a series of resolutions proposing to amend the Constitution, including what would become the 27th Amendment. The proposed amendment stated that no law varying the compensation of Members of Congress could become operative before the next election of Representatives.
The 27th Amendment was submitted to the states for ratification on September 25, 1789, along with 11 other proposed amendments. While the other amendments were ratified and became the Bill of Rights, the 27th Amendment was largely forgotten and did not receive enough support to come into force. It was not until 1982 that Gregory Watson, a student at the University of Texas at Austin, wrote a paper arguing that the amendment was still relevant and could be ratified. Watson's campaign gained traction, and in 1992, Michigan became the 38th state to ratify the amendment, finally reaching the required threshold for ratification.
The 27th Amendment aims to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by allowing the public to hold members of Congress accountable through elections before any salary changes take effect. However, it is unclear if the amendment has significantly impacted congressional behaviour. Additionally, federal courts have determined that the amendment does not apply to cost-of-living adjustments, allowing for some flexibility in Congressional salaries.
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Donald Trump running for a third term
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 may take effect only after the next election of the House of Representatives has occurred.
Now, moving on to the topic of Donald Trump running for a third term, it is important to note that Trump has already served two terms as the President of the United States, from 2017 to 2021 and from 2021 to 2025. In 2024, he defeated former Vice President Kamala Harris to secure his second term.
Despite being barred by the Twenty-second Amendment from serving a third term, Trump has hinted at the possibility. California Governor Gavin Newsom has warned that Trump is serious about pursuing a third term, citing the president's disregard for democratic norms and belief that he has the best poll numbers. Newsom shared that Trump had a stack of Trump 2028 hats, indicating a potential run in the next election.
Trump has suggested that he could circumvent the Twenty-second Amendment, which states that "no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice." One way Trump could potentially bypass the Constitution is by running as vice president on a JD Vance ticket in 2028 and then becoming president if Vance steps down. However, legal scholars have deemed this a "ludicrous argument," stating that it would ultimately be struck down in court.
To retain power, Trump would need to convince Congress to amend the Constitution, which requires a supermajority of support in both chambers and ratification by three-fourths of US states—a challenging task. While Trump has not explicitly confirmed his intentions, his hints at a third term and disregard for democratic norms have caused concern among critics.
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District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment
The District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the US Constitution that would have given the District of Columbia full representation in Congress, full representation in the Electoral College, and full participation in the constitutional amending process. The amendment was introduced in 1977 by Representative Don Edwards of California, who proposed House Joint Resolution 554. The resolution passed the House on March 2, 1978, with a vote of 289-127 and the Senate on August 22, 1978, by a vote of 67-32.
The amendment had considerable bipartisan support, with notable backers including Strom Thurmond (R-SC), who was known for his longtime support of racial segregation. Reflecting a shift in his views, Thurmond supported the amendment despite the District of Columbia's Black-majority population, stating: "How can we [exemplify the ideals of democracy] when three-quarters of a million people are not allowed to have voting representation in the capital city of this Nation?" The amendment also faced opposition, primarily from conservatives such as Ted Stevens (R-AK).
The District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment was then submitted to the state legislatures for ratification, with a requirement that three-fourths (38) of the states approve it within seven years for it to become part of the Constitution. However, by the deadline of August 22, 1985, only 16 states had ratified the amendment, falling short of the necessary 38. As a result, the citizens of the District of Columbia continue to lack representation in Congress and full rights in the Electoral College.
The text of the proposed amendment stated that it would be inoperative if ratified past the original seven-year deadline. Therefore, if the required number of states ratifies the amendment in the future, it will be added to the Constitution but will have no effect.
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Lowering the voting age to 16
The most recent amendment mentioned in the search results is the Twenty-seventh Amendment, which states that any law that increases or decreases the salary of members of Congress can only come into effect after the next election of the House of Representatives has occurred. However, this article will focus on the proposal for a new amendment to lower the voting age to 16.
U.S. Representative Grace Meng has reintroduced legislation that seeks to replace the 26th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution with a new amendment that would lower the voting age to 16. The proposal has received support from various organisations and individuals, including the National Youth Rights Association, the Next Up Action Fund, Generation Citizen, and 18by Vote.
Proponents of the amendment argue that 16 and 17-year-olds are contributing members of society who are legally permitted to work, drive, and pay federal income taxes. They are affected by government decisions on crucial issues such as education, the environment, and war, yet they have no say in who represents their values and priorities. Lowering the voting age would give them a voice in democracy and increase youth voter participation. Research has found that 16-year-olds hold equivalent levels of civic competence to 18-year-olds, and early uses of a lower voting age in some cities and state primaries have shown positive impacts on youth involvement in the political process.
Furthermore, supporters of the amendment highlight the influence and passion that young people have demonstrated in recent years, advocating for issues they care deeply about. Lowering the voting age would allow them to shape their own futures and ensure their voices are heard at the ballot box.
The proposal for lowering the voting age to 16 follows a historical pattern of extending voting rights, similar to the extension from 21 to 18, which was influenced by young people's roles in the civil rights movement and other social and political changes. The last time the voting age was lowered was in 1971, and it is time to continue this progress and strengthen democracy by giving young people the right to vote at 16.
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Frequently asked questions
The Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII), also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789.
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 amendment was proposed on September 25, 1789, and ratified in 1992.
The first amendment listed in the Bill of Rights defined the number of members in the House of Representatives based on regional population.
