Malcolm Rivera
The latest amendment to the US Constitution is the Twenty-seventh Amendment, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789. It was ratified in 1992, over 200 years after it was first proposed. 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 idea behind 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.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII) |
| Other Names | Congressional Compensation Act of 1789 |
| Date Proposed | June 8, 1789 |
| Date Ratified | May 5, 1992 |
| Proposer | Representative James Madison of Virginia |
| Subject | Congressional salaries |
| 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
The amendment was first proposed by Representative James Madison of Virginia on June 8, 1789. Madison's proposal was referred to a committee, and after some debate, it was passed by the House along with 16 other articles of amendment on August 24, 1789. The Senate made some alterations and approved a package of 12 articles of amendment on September 9, 1789.
The amendment was then sent to the states for ratification, but it was not initially ratified by enough states to come into force. It was ratified by seven states through 1792, but it was then forgotten and was not ratified by another state for eighty years. In 1873, the Ohio General Assembly ratified the amendment, and in 1978, the Wyoming Legislature followed suit. However, it was not until 1982 that the amendment gained new attention thanks to Gregory Watson, a 19-year-old student at the University of Texas at Austin. Watson wrote a paper arguing that the amendment was still valid and could be ratified.
Despite receiving a “C” grade for his paper, Watson launched a nationwide campaign to complete the ratification of the amendment. From 1983 to 1992, state legislatures gradually ratified the amendment in response to Watson's letter-writing campaign. On May 5, 1992, the 38th state ratified the amendment, and it officially became part of the Constitution.
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Congressional Compensation Act of 1789
The Twenty-seventh Amendment, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, is the most recently adopted 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 Congressional Compensation Act of 1789 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 aims to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by allowing the public to remove members of Congress from office before their salaries increase.
The amendment was originally introduced by Representative James Madison of Virginia in the House of Representatives on June 8, 1789. Madison intended for it 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". After being referred to a committee and debated by the full House, the proposal was passed on August 24, 1789, along with 16 other articles of amendment. 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 amendment was submitted to the states for ratification on September 25, 1789, but it did not receive enough ratifications to come into force. The proposed amendment was largely forgotten until 1982, when Gregory Watson, a 19-year-old undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Austin, wrote a paper arguing that the amendment was still valid and could be ratified. Watson received a "'C'" grade for his paper but started a nationwide letter-writing campaign to state legislatures to get the amendment ratified. From 1983 to 1992, state legislatures gradually ratified the amendment, and it became law when the 38th state ratified it in 1992.
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Reducing corruption in Congress
The latest amendment to the US Constitution is the Twenty-seventh Amendment, which was ratified in 1992. This amendment was proposed alongside 11 others on September 25, 1789, and was largely forgotten until 1982, when a university student named Gregory Watson wrote a paper arguing that the amendment was still "live" and could be ratified.
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 can only take effect after the next election of the House of Representatives. The amendment aims to reduce corruption in Congress by allowing the public to remove members of Congress from office before their salaries increase.
Despite this amendment, corruption remains a significant issue in America, with the political establishment often prioritizing their interests over those of the people. To further reduce corruption in Congress, several measures can be implemented:
Establish an Independent Ethics Committee in the Senate
An independent ethics committee, such as the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) in the House of Representatives, is crucial for investigating and enforcing ethics rules. Unlike the House, the Senate relies on self-policing, which has resulted in a low rate of finding violations and a lack of transparency. An independent committee, composed of non-members, would ensure senators prioritize the interests of the public over those of donors and special interests.
Introduce Comprehensive Anti-Corruption Legislation
Congressman Jared Golden has introduced six bills as part of his Government Integrity & Anti-Corruption Plan. These bills aim to reduce the influence of foreign actors, dark money, and special interests in politics, while increasing transparency and integrity. One of the bills, the Crack Down on Dark Money Act, targets mega-donors and nonprofits involved in secret political activity. By reducing the cap on political activity by nonprofits and requiring donor disclosure, this bill shines a light on dark money spending.
Reform Campaign Finance Laws and Implement Term Limits
Jared Golden's plan also includes the introduction of strong guardrails against corruption by public officials. This involves reforming campaign finance laws to limit the influence of special interests and introducing term limits for members of the House and senators.
Ban Members of Congress from Holding Investments in Foreign Businesses
Another bill introduced by Jared Golden, the Stop Foreign Payoffs Act, aims to ban members of Congress, presidents, vice presidents, and Cabinet secretaries, as well as their close family members, from earning salaries or holding investments in foreign businesses while in office. This bill addresses the widespread practice of leveraging political power for personal profit and reduces the influence of foreign entities.
By implementing these measures, alongside continued public pressure and oversight, it is possible to significantly reduce corruption in Congress and restore Americans' faith in their government.
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The 1992 ratification
The Twenty-seventh Amendment, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, was ratified in 1992 and became the most recent amendment to the United States Constitution. The amendment 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 road to the ratification of the Twenty-seventh Amendment in 1992 began in 1982 when Gregory Watson, a 19-year-old undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Austin, wrote a paper for a government class. In his paper, Watson argued that the amendment was still "live" and could be ratified. He received a “C” grade for his paper, which sparked a letter-writing campaign to state legislatures to prove his professor wrong.
From 1983 to 1992, state legislatures gradually ratified the amendment, with the support of followers that Watson had gained. The amendment finally became law when the 38th state ratified it in 1992, marking a significant moment in US constitutional history. The long journey to ratification, spanning over two centuries, showcases the dedication and persistence of individuals like Gregory Watson, who played a pivotal role in making it a reality.
The Twenty-seventh Amendment addresses the issue of congressional salaries and aims to reduce corruption in the legislative branch. By requiring an election before a congressperson's salary increase takes effect, the public gains a measure of control over the compensation of their representatives. This amendment highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in government, ensuring that any changes in compensation are subject to the approval of the people through the electoral process.
While the Twenty-seventh Amendment may not be the most exciting or widely discussed aspect of the Constitution, it serves a crucial purpose in maintaining the integrity of the legislative process and reinforcing the principles of democratic governance.
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Gregory Watson's letter-writing campaign
The latest 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.
The amendment was first proposed in 1789, along with 11 other amendments, but it was not ratified by enough states to come into force. The proposed amendment was largely forgotten until 1982 when Gregory Watson, a 19-year-old undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Austin, wrote a paper for a government class arguing that the amendment was still valid and could be ratified. Watson received a “C” grade for his paper, which sparked a letter-writing campaign to state legislatures to get the amendment ratified.
In his paper, Watson argued that the amendment's ratifications were "current" because, unlike modern amendments, there was no deadline for ratification. He discovered that two more states had ratified the amendment in the subsequent decades. From 1983 to 1992, state legislatures gradually ratified the amendment in response to Watson's letter-writing campaign. The amendment became law when the 38th state ratified it in 1992, earning Watson the title of the "stepfather" of the 27th Amendment by law professor Richard B. Bernstein.
Watson's campaign is a notable example of the power of an educated population and individual agency in influencing policy change. His efforts resulted in the amendment becoming part of the US Constitution, demonstrating that individuals can have a significant impact on shaping the laws that govern them.
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Frequently asked questions
The latest amendment to the US Constitution is the Twenty-seventh Amendment, which was ratified in 1992.
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 take effect only after the next election of the House of Representatives.
The idea behind the Twenty-seventh Amendment was to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by requiring an election before a congressperson's salary increase takes effect.
The Twenty-seventh Amendment was one of 12 amendments proposed by the first Congress in 1789. It remained dormant for almost 80 years until Ohio ratified it in 1873, followed by Wyoming in 1978. In 1982, a student at the University of Texas at Austin named Gregory Watson wrote a paper arguing that the amendment was still valid, which led to a nationwide campaign for its ratification. The amendment was gradually ratified by state legislatures from 1983 to 1992, becoming law when the 38th state ratified it.
