Summary

Prevents laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until after the next election.

History and Context

The Twenty-seventh Amendment has the most bizarre and drawn-out history of any amendment. It was originally proposed by James Madison in 1789 as part of the original Bill of Rights, but it failed to be ratified by enough states at the time. It then lay dormant for nearly 200 years. In 1982, a university student in Texas named Gregory Watson discovered the proposed amendment while researching a paper and began a nationwide campaign to get it ratified. Incredibly, he succeeded. The amendment prevents Congress from giving itself an immediate pay raise, requiring an intervening election to take place first. This allows the voters to hold them accountable. Its ratification after 202 years is a testament to the enduring power of a good idea and the persistence of a single citizen.

Key Figures