Eleanor Finch
The last constitutional amendment to be added was the Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII), also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789. It was ratified in 1992 and 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 one of the first proposed, along with 11 other amendments, by Representative James Madison of Virginia in 1789.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII) |
| Other Names | Congressional Compensation Act of 1789 |
| Year Proposed | 1789 |
| Year Ratified | 1992 |
| Number of States that Ratified | 38 |
| Number of States that Didn't Ratify | 4 |
| States that Didn't Ratify | Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, and Pennsylvania |
| Topic | Congressional Pay |
| Description | Requires any change to the rate of compensation for members of the U.S. Congress to take effect only after the subsequent election in the House of Representatives |
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What You'll Learn
The Twenty-seventh Amendment
However, the Twenty-seventh Amendment was not initially ratified by enough states to come into force. By 1792, only seven states had ratified the amendment, and it remained dormant for almost 80 years. In 1873, Ohio ratified the amendment as a protest against congressional attempts to increase their salaries, and Wyoming followed suit in 1978. In 1982, the amendment gained renewed attention due to the efforts of Gregory Watson, a student at the University of Texas at Austin, who wrote a paper advocating for its ratification to curb political corruption.
Finally, on May 18, 1992, the Archivist of the United States, Don W. Wilson, certified that the amendment had been ratified by the required three-quarters of the states, with Alabama being the 38th state to do so. On May 20, 1992, Congress declared the ratification legal, and the Twenty-seventh Amendment officially became part of the Constitution. This unusual ratification process sparked debates about the validity of the amendment, with scholars arguing about the absence of a "magic moment" of simultaneous approval by Congress and the required number of states.
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The Congressional Compensation Act of 1789
The Twenty-seventh Amendment, commonly known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, was one of the first proposed amendments to the United States Constitution. It was proposed by Representative James Madison of Virginia on June 8, 1789, and submitted to the states for ratification on September 25, 1789, along with 11 other proposed amendments.
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. 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 "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". This was due to concerns that Congress would pay itself too much, and the amendment aimed to reduce corruption in the legislative branch.
After its proposal, the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789 lay dormant for almost 80 years, as only six states voted for its ratification: Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia. In 1873, Ohio ratified the amendment to express its dissatisfaction with Congress's attempts to increase salaries. Wyoming followed suit in 1978. In 1982, a student at the University of Texas in Austin, Gregory Watson, wrote a paper on the subject, sparking a movement to curtail political corruption by ratifying the amendment.
Finally, on May 7, 1992, the Archivist of the United States certified that the amendment's ratification had been completed, making it the most recently adopted amendment to the Constitution. However, four states have not ratified the Twenty-seventh Amendment: Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, and Pennsylvania.
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The Bill of Rights
The last constitutional amendment added in the United States was Amendment XXVII, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789. It was certified by the Archivist of the United States, Don W. Wilson, on May 18, 1992, and published in the Federal Register on May 19, 1992. This 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.
The process of amending the Constitution is a lengthy and deliberate one, with over 11,000 proposals introduced in Congress since 1789. The Bill of Rights and the 27th Amendment highlight the significance of constitutional amendments in shaping the country's legal framework and safeguarding citizens' rights and liberties.
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The long road to ratification
The Twenty-seventh Amendment, or the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, was the last constitutional amendment to be added. It was proposed by Representative James Madison of Virginia in the House of Representatives on June 8, 1789, along with 11 other amendments. Madison intended to add it 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 proposals went to the Senate, which made 26 substantive alterations. On September 9, 1789, the Senate approved a package of 12 articles of amendment, which were then submitted to the states for ratification on September 25, 1789. However, the Twenty-seventh Amendment lay dormant for many years, as it was not ratified by enough states to come into force.
In 1873, Ohio ratified the amendment as a protest against attempts by Congress to increase their salaries, and Wyoming followed suit in 1978. In 1982, a student at the University of Texas at Austin, Gregory Watson, wrote a paper claiming that the amendment could still be ratified. This sparked a nationwide movement, and by 1992, enough states had ratified the amendment for it to become part of the Constitution.
The Archivist of the United States, Don W. Wilson, certified the amendment's ratification on May 18, 1992. However, this decision was controversial, as some argued that Wilson deviated from "historic tradition" by not waiting for Congress to consider the ratification's validity. Despite this, the Twenty-seventh Amendment became the most recently adopted amendment to the Constitution, stating that any law changing the salary of members of Congress can only take effect after the next election of the House of Representatives.
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The role of the Supreme Court
The Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII), commonly known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, is the most recently adopted amendment to the United States Constitution. 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.
The Supreme Court plays a crucial role in interpreting and applying the Constitution, including the Twenty-seventh Amendment. The Court's interpretations can shape the law and impact the rights and liberties of the people. The Court's rulings on constitutional matters are final and binding, and they can have a significant impact on public policy and the balance of power between the federal government and the states.
One of the key roles of the Supreme Court is to rule on the constitutionality of laws and government actions. This includes determining whether laws passed by Congress and actions taken by the executive branch are consistent with the Constitution, including the Twenty-seventh Amendment. The Court can strike down laws or actions that it finds violate the Constitution. This power of judicial review is derived from Article III of the Constitution, which establishes the Supreme Court and gives it the authority to interpret the law.
In carrying out its duties, the Supreme Court may also consider the validity of the ratification process of constitutional amendments. This was a point of discussion in the case of Coleman v. Miller (1939), where the Court ruled that the validity of state ratifications of a constitutional amendment is a political matter for Congress to decide upon, rather than a judicial one.
The Supreme Court also plays a vital role in resolving disputes between states or between a state and the federal government. These cases often involve conflicting interpretations of the Constitution, and the Court's rulings can shape the balance of power and the relationship between the states and the federal government.
Additionally, the Supreme Court is responsible for interpreting the Twenty-seventh Amendment and determining how it applies in specific cases. For example, the Court may need to decide whether a particular law violates the amendment's prohibition on changing congressional salaries without an election. These interpretations can clarify the amendment's meaning and ensure its enforcement.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court has a significant role in upholding and interpreting the Constitution, including the Twenty-seventh Amendment. Through its rulings, the Court shapes the law and safeguards the rights and liberties outlined in the Constitution. By reviewing laws and government actions for their constitutionality, the Supreme Court acts as a critical check and balance in the US system of government.
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Frequently asked questions
The Twenty-seventh Amendment was added most recently to the United States Constitution in 1992.
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.
The amendment was first proposed in 1789 by Representative James Madison of Virginia, along with 11 other amendments. It was ratified in 1992, after a gap of almost 80 years, when six states voted for ratification. In 1982, a student named Gregory Watson wrote a paper that became the foundation for a movement to ratify the amendment and curtail political corruption.
