{"id":30981,"date":"2016-04-04T20:34:02","date_gmt":"2016-04-05T01:34:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-legal\/constitution\/amendment27.html"},"modified":"2024-08-02T13:39:02","modified_gmt":"2024-08-02T18:39:02","slug":"amendment27","status":"publish","type":"constitution","link":"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/amendment27.html","title":{"rendered":"27th Amendment – Changes in Pay for Members of Congress"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Twenty-Seventh Amendment – Changes in Pay for Members of Congress<\/h1>\n
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\n By Samuel Strom, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Edward Maggio, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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The 27th Amendment allows Congress to increase or decrease the salaries paid to U.S. Representatives and Senators. While the Amendment is straightforward, it has arguably the most complicated history of any amendment to the U.S. Constitution.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

The 27th Amendment prohibits salary changes for members of Congress until after an election of representatives. To put it differently, senators and representatives have the power to increase (or decrease) their own salaries. However, any changes will not come into effect until the next session of Congress.<\/p>\r\n

The Amendment’s text is straightforward. However, as one legal scholar wrote<\/a>, "No provision of the United States Constitution has a more drawn-out, tortured history," than the 27th Amendment.<\/p>\r\n

This article outlines the history, interpretation, and current relevance of the 27th Amendment.<\/p>\r\n

What the Twenty-Seventh Amendment Says<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

The 27th Amendment, sometimes called the "congressional pay amendment," states the following:<\/p>\r\n

"No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened."<\/i><\/p>\r\n

What It Means<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

The 27th Amendment limits changes to Congressional salaries. Congressional pay raises can only occur after the next election of representatives. Congressmembers can’t raise their salaries right before getting voted out of office. Any law passed that changes their pay takes effect in the following session.<\/p>\r\n

Historical Background<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

In 1787, the Framers met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to amend the Articles of Confederation<\/a>. Throughout the summer, debates and discussions about America’s governmental structure occurred. The result was the Constitution of the United States<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

The U.S. Constitution established the federal government. Specifically, it created three branches of government:<\/p>\r\n