How Long Did It Take to Ratify the 27th Amendment?

The 27th Amendment took more than two centuries to ratify. Congress proposed it on September 25, 1789, and the 38th state approved it on May 7, 1992. That is 202 years, 7 months, and 12 days—the longest ratification period of any amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Its unusual timeline began with an early proposal about congressional pay, continued through a long period of inactivity, and ended after a modern campaign revived the measure.

Meta description: Learn how long the 27th Amendment took to ratify, why it remained unapproved for more than 200 years, and how it became part of the Constitution in 1992.

The proposal did not include a deadline for state ratification. Many modern amendments have been sent to states with a time limit, often seven years. Because the 1789 compensation amendment had no expiration date, it remained available for ratification even after the original political moment had passed. The Constitution does not explicitly state whether every proposed amendment without a deadline remains open indefinitely, but the 27th Amendment’s eventual certification established that this proposal could still be ratified.

Early state legislatures approved the proposal in the years immediately after Congress sent it out. Six states ratified it by 1791, but the measure did not reach the required threshold. Public attention then faded. The states did not complete ratification, and the proposal remained largely inactive for generations.

Interest returned in the 20th century, especially during debates about congressional compensation. In 1982, Gregory Watson, then a student at the University of Texas at Austin, wrote a paper arguing that the amendment could still be ratified. His campaign helped draw attention to the proposal and encouraged state legislators to take it up. The effort became a notable example of sustained grassroots advocacy contributing to a constitutional change.

The amendment’s long history was not simply a continuous, organized campaign lasting more than 200 years. It consisted of early approvals, a long gap, and renewed state action in the late 20th century. That distinction helps explain how an amendment proposed in the nation’s founding era could be completed in modern times.

Key Dates in the Ratification Timeline

The dates show two different milestones: May 7, 1992, was the date the necessary number of states had ratified, while May 18 was the date the Archivist formally certified the amendment. The ratification period is measured from Congress’s proposal to the 38th state’s approval, not to the later certification.

How Many States Had to Ratify It?

Article V requires ratification by three-fourths of the states. When Michigan acted in 1992, the United States had 50 states, so the threshold was 38. Michigan’s approval brought the total to the number needed. The amendment therefore became part of the Constitution without requiring unanimous state approval.

The rule is based on the number of states at the time ratification is completed. The original 13 states were the country’s only states when Congress proposed the amendment, but the nation grew as new states joined the Union. By 1992, the relevant threshold was three-fourths of 50, not three-fourths of 13.

Why the Amendment’s Status Was Debated

The extraordinary delay raised questions about whether a proposal could remain open for ratification for so long. The Constitution sets the three-fourths requirement but does not give a general time limit for ratification. In the 20th century, Congress began including deadlines in many proposed amendments, which helped prevent uncertainty about whether an old proposal remained active.

Some states that had previously ratified the compensation proposal later attempted to rescind their approvals. The effect of those attempted rescissions was debated. The Archivist counted the necessary ratifications and certified the amendment after the required number of states had approved it. Congress later recognized the amendment, and the House and Senate accepted its status in 1992.

The episode also demonstrated that the certification process matters. Under federal law, the Archivist receives and publishes state ratification documents and certifies an amendment once the required number of states has ratified it. The National Archives’ record of the amendment identifies Michigan as the final state needed and records the May 1992 certification.

How the 27th Amendment Compares With Other Amendments

The 27th Amendment holds the record for the longest time between congressional proposal and ratification. By contrast, the 26th Amendment, which lowered the voting age to 18, was ratified in 1971 in just over three months. Its rapid approval reflected intense national attention and a specific deadline-driven political context. Amendment timelines can vary widely depending on public support, state legislative action, and whether Congress sets a deadline.

The 27th Amendment is also unusual because it originated in the same 1789 package as the Bill of Rights but was not ratified with the other ten successful proposals. One of the other two proposals from that package—the congressional apportionment proposal—has not been ratified. The compensation proposal alone remained active long enough to eventually meet the Article V threshold.

What the Pay Rule Means Today

The amendment is a timing safeguard, not a ban on congressional pay changes. If Congress enacts a law changing the compensation of senators and representatives, the change cannot take effect until after an election of representatives has intervened. This means the public has a chance to vote in a House election before the pay change becomes effective.

The wording refers specifically to an election of representatives, meaning an election for the House of Representatives. It does not require a separate special election solely to approve a pay change. Nor does it dictate how Congress must calculate compensation. Other laws and constitutional provisions may affect congressional pay, but the 27th Amendment’s central rule is the delay before a compensation change takes effect.

Reliable Sources for the Ratification Record

The National Archives’ transcription and ratification information provides the amendment text and official historical context. The Constitution Annotated, maintained by Congress, explains Article V and the constitutional amendment process. These records are useful for distinguishing the proposal date, the final state ratification date, and the later certification date.

In brief, the 27th Amendment took 202 years, 7 months, and 12 days to ratify. Congress proposed it in 1789, the process stalled for generations, and a renewed campaign helped bring it back before state legislatures. Michigan’s ratification on May 7, 1992, supplied the 38th approval needed to add the congressional compensation rule to the Constitution.