On May 19, 1992, the Twenty-Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was declared ratified. The amendment limits changes to congressional pay, stating that any change in compensation cannot take effect until after the next election of representatives. The proposal had originally been introduced in 1789 as part of the original batch of amendments but was not fully ratified at that time. Centuries later, renewed interest and state ratifications brought it over the required threshold. The amendment is a rare example of a constitutional change taking effect long after it was first proposed. It reflects public concern over self-interest in legislative pay decisions.
