Today, we’re looking at the Twenty-seventh (and final) Amendment as we work our way through the Constitution and its amendments.

This post is the last of a series that will make more sense if it is read in order. If you haven’t read the earlier posts in this series, please click here to start with the first one. One reason I’ve broken this series into fairly small parts is that we have a tendency to rush through reading the Constitution and miss a lot of it. I hope the readers of this series will ponder the points in each session. I also hope you will comment on each post as we go along.

Throughout this series on the Constitution, my comments will be in black normal font, and the text of the document will be in this color and italicized.

ARTICLE XXVII.

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.

This is a straight-forward and non-controversial amendment to prevent Congress from dipping into the federal till. They can increase their compensation, but no such increase can take effect during their current terms. A somewhat similar Constitutional provision prevents any change in a President’s compensation while he is in office.

It has been my hope this series on the U. S. Constitution would stimulate readers to see and appreciate the importance of this document and of protecting its integrity against the onslaught of attacks from judges and politicians who would pervert the meaning of its words to suit their own purposes. For most of the last century we have had one Supreme Court case after another, one President after another, and all sorts of lesser politicians and pundits trying to change the clear meaning of the document.

Within the next week we will elect a new President. Regardless of whose public face and personality you like, it’s imperative that we deny the Presidency to a candidate who would fill Supreme Court vacancies with hacks who would further dilute and pervert this precious document on which the foundation of our nation rests. I hope every reader will bear that in mind in casting his or her vote.

I would appreciate honest feedback from those who have read all or most of this series. How has it affected your view of our government and political process?

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Benjamin Franklin, exiting Constitutional Convention:

“We’ve given you a republic, if you can keep it.”

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For more information about David N. Walker, click the “About” tab above.

For more information about his books, click on “Books” above.

Contact him at dnwalkertx (at) gmail (dot) com or tweet him at @davidnwalkertx.