FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SJM 8010

                     As Passed Legislature

Brief Description:  Postratifying Amendment XXVII.

Sponsors:  Senators Cantu, Fraser, Oke, Winsley, Johnson, Snyder, Hochstatter, Finkbeiner, Strannigan, Schow, Moyer, Palmer, Roach, Deccio and West.

Senate Committee on Government Operations

House Committee on Government Operations

Background:  Article V of the United States Constitution states (in part) that whenever two-thirds of both houses of Congress shall propose an amendment to the Constitution, the amendment shall become part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states.

Amendment XXVII, proposed by the 1st Congress of the United States, states that "No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened."

On May 7, 1992, the state of Michigan became the 38th state to ratify the constitutional amendment in question; on May 20, both houses of Congress adopted resolutions concluding that the proposal had become Amendment XXVII to the United States Constitution.

Since the amendment was ratified, five additional states have post-ratified the amendment.

Summary:  The state of Washington post-ratifies Amendment XXVII to the United States Constitution.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate    47 0

House     97 0