Primary Sources: U.S. Constitution: 27th Amendment

" Senate, 99-0, and House, 414-3, endorse newly ratified constitutional amendment, first proposed 203 years ago, that bars Congress from voting members immediate pay raises; votes come after 27th Amendment had already been made law of land (S) "

Michael Kosta sits down with Gregory Watson, a man whose C-grade college essay led to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution's 27th Amendment

"Gregory Watson talked about his role in getting the 27th Amendment to the Constitution ratified. The amendment deals with pay adjustments for members of Congress. In 1982, while a student at the University of Texas at Austin, Mr. Watson became interested in constitutional amendments that had passed Congress but had not passed enough state legislatures. He decided to write a paper on an amendment that prevents members on Congress from giving themselves raises during the current session. When his professor refused to change the “C” he received on his work, he decided to try to get the amendment ratified. "

A MONTH'S EXTRA PAY VOTED TO HOUSE EMPLOYES. FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS OF THE PEOPLE'S MONEY GIVEN AWAY BY 12 MAJORITY.