Page "Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution" Paragraph 4

The Twenty-seventh Amendment provides that any change in Congressional salaries may only take effect after the beginning of the next term of office for Representatives.

Sometimes called the " Congressional Compensation Amendment of 1789 ", the " Congressional Pay Amendment ", and the " Madison Amendment ", it was intended to serve as a restraint on the power of Congress to set its own salary — an obvious potential for conflict of interest.