Omar Bennett
The Twenty-seventh Amendment, or the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, is the last constitutional amendment. It was passed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses in 1789, along with 11 other proposed amendments. However, it was not ratified until May 5, 1992, making it the most recently adopted amendment. The amendment addresses congressional pay, stating 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.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII) |
| Other Names | Congressional Compensation Act of 1789 |
| Purpose | Reduce corruption in the legislative branch |
| Proposal Date | June 8, 1789 |
| Ratification Date | May 5, 1992 |
| Ratification Time Period | 203 years |
| Number of States Ratified | 37 |
| Content | No law varying the compensation for the services of Senators and Representatives shall take effect until an election of Representatives has occurred |
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What You'll Learn
The Twenty-seventh Amendment
In 1982, a student at the University of Texas at Austin, Gregory Watson, wrote a paper arguing for the amendment's ratification to curtail political corruption. This sparked a nationwide campaign, and the amendment gained momentum. Finally, on May 5, 1992, the Twenty-seventh Amendment was certified as legally ratified and became part of the United States Constitution. Michigan's ratification was believed to be the 38th state, but it was later discovered that Kentucky had also ratified the amendment, making Alabama the 38th and final state needed for ratification.
The purpose of the Twenty-seventh Amendment is to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by giving the public a say in Congress members' salaries. It ensures that any changes to congressional compensation will not take effect until after the next election, allowing voters to hold their representatives accountable before any salary adjustments are implemented. This amendment addresses a concern that several states raised during the debate over ratifying the Constitution.
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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 submitted to the states for ratification on September 25, 1789, along with 11 other proposed amendments (Articles I–XII). However, it was not ratified by enough states to come into force at that time.
The Congressional Compensation Act of 1789 addresses the issue of Congressional compensation. 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. This 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 initially ratified by seven states through 1792, including Kentucky. However, it 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, claiming that the amendment had already been ratified by enough states. Watson launched a nationwide campaign to complete its ratification, and the amendment eventually became part of the United States Constitution, effective May 5, 1992.
The Twenty-seventh Amendment is significant because it ensures that any changes to the compensation of Senators and Representatives are subject to the approval of the people they represent. This helps to maintain a check on the power of Congress and prevent self-serving salary adjustments. The amendment also highlights the enduring nature of the United States Constitution, demonstrating that even proposals from over two hundred years ago can still be relevant and influential in the present day.
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Ratification by states
The Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII), also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, is the most recent amendment to the United States Constitution. It was ratified in 1992, but it was one of the first amendments proposed. 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 process of ratifying the Twenty-seventh Amendment was unique and spanned over two centuries. Here's an overview of the ratification process by the states:
Initial Attempts at Ratification (1789-1792):
- The First Congress submitted the amendment, along with 11 other proposed amendments, to the states for ratification on September 25, 1789.
- Between 1789 and 1792, seven states ratified the amendment: Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and Kentucky.
- However, the remaining states did not take action, and the amendment fell dormant for almost eight decades.
Resurgence in the 19th and 20th Centuries:
- In 1873, Ohio ratified the amendment as a protest against congressional attempts to increase their salaries.
- In 1978, Wyoming ratified the amendment, also as a protest against a congressional pay raise in 1977.
- By 1982, only six states had ratified the amendment, and it remained dormant for many years.
Nationwide Campaign and Final Ratification:
- In 1982, Gregory Watson, a student at the University of Texas at Austin, wrote a paper arguing for the ratification of the amendment to curb political corruption.
- Watson's paper sparked a nationwide campaign to complete the ratification process.
- Through Watson's efforts and a growing movement, more states became aware of the amendment and considered ratification.
Completion of Ratification:
- Over time, additional states ratified the amendment, and by 1992, enough states had approved it to meet the requirements for it to become part of the Constitution.
- On May 5, 1992, the Twenty-seventh Amendment was officially added to the United States Constitution, more than two hundred years after it was first proposed.
The Twenty-seventh Amendment's long and unconventional journey to ratification demonstrates the enduring relevance of the issues it addresses and the power of grassroots campaigns in influencing constitutional change.
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Reducing corruption in Congress
The most recent amendment to the US Constitution is the Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII), also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789. This amendment was proposed in 1789 and finally ratified in 1992. Its aim is to reduce corruption in Congress by requiring that any changes to the salaries of members of Congress can only take effect after the next election of the House of Representatives. In other words, it gives the public the opportunity to remove members of Congress from office before their salaries increase.
The Twenty-seventh Amendment was one of the first amendments proposed, along with 11 others, by Representative James Madison of Virginia in 1789. It was intended to be added to Article I, Section 6, Clause 1 of the Constitution, which states that senators and representatives shall receive compensation for their services. However, the amendment lay dormant for almost 80 years as only six states voted for its ratification. It was not until 1873 that Ohio ratified the amendment as a protest against attempts by Congress to increase their salaries, and again in 1978 by Wyoming for similar reasons.
In 1982, a student at the University of Texas in Austin, Gregory Watson, wrote a research paper that formed the basis for a movement to ratify the amendment and curb political corruption. Watson spent $6,000 of his own money on a nationwide campaign to complete the amendment's ratification. As a result of his efforts, the Twenty-seventh Amendment became part of the US Constitution on May 5, 1992.
While it is difficult to determine whether the amendment has had any impact on congressional behaviour, it stands as a significant effort to address corruption in the legislative branch by giving power back to the people. This amendment sets an important precedent for future efforts to reduce corruption in Congress and strengthen the foundations of American democracy.
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Congressional pay
The Twenty-seventh Amendment, commonly known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, is the last constitutional amendment to be added 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.
History
The 27th Amendment was one of the first 12 amendments proposed by the first Congress in 1789. Ten of these were ratified in 1791 to become the Bill of Rights, but the 27th Amendment, along with the Congressional Apportionment Amendment, were not ratified by enough states to come into force at that time. The 27th 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 in which he claimed that the amendment was still pending ratification by the states. Watson launched a nationwide campaign to complete its ratification, and the amendment eventually became part of the United States Constitution, effective May 5, 1992.
Impact
The idea behind the 27th Amendment is to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by requiring an election before a congressperson's salary increase takes effect. This allows the public to remove members of Congress from office before their salaries increase. However, it is unclear whether the amendment has produced any change in congressional behaviour. Additionally, the amendment has faced very little litigation since its ratification, and federal courts have determined that it does not apply to cost-of-living adjustments issued by Congress.
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Frequently asked questions
The Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII) is the last Constitutional Amendment.
The Twenty-seventh Amendment was ratified in 1992.
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.
The Twenty-seventh Amendment is also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789.
There have been 27 amendments to the Constitution.
