Salaries of Members of Congress, 1789-2003

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 USD1,500. By 1968, they had risen to USD30,000. 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. Contents: Preface; Salaries of Members of Congress: Payable Rates and Effective Dates, 1789-2003; Salaries of Members of Congress: Congressional Votes, 1990-2003; Salaries of Members of Congress: Current Procedures and Recent Adjustments; Index.