Salaries of Members of Congress: A List of Payable Rates and Effective Dates, 1789-2006

Publication Date: October 2005

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

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Research Area: Government

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Abstract:

Congress is required by Article I, Section 6, of the Constitution to determine its own pay. Prior to 1969, Congress did so by enacting stand-alone legislation. From 1789 through 1968, Congress raised its pay 22 times using this procedure. Congressional salaries initially were $1,500. By 1968, they had risen to $30,000. Stand-alone legislation may still be used to raise Member pay, as it was most recently in 1982, 1983, 1989, and 1991, but two other methods are now also available, an automatic annual adjustment procedure and a commission process.

In January 2005, Members received a 2.5% increase under the annual adjustment procedure, increasing their salary to $162,100. They are scheduled to receive a 1.9% increase under the procedure in January 2006, to $165,200.