This amendment, limiting the extent to which Congress could raise their salaries, was nearly 200 years in the making.

FROM: ARCHIVESFOUNDATION.ORG:

(Very) Early Origins

The text of the 27th Amendment reads: “No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.”
The issue of lawmakers’ salaries was quite contentious during the Constitutional Convention. The framers held competing visions about the extent to which congressmen should be paid, if at all. One of the most vocal opponents to congressional pay altogether was Benjamin Franklin.

Franklin argued that public servants should work without pay, believing that they should be virtuous in their commitment to governmental service. Ultimately, his view was on the more extreme end and did not make its way into the draft constitution. While representation in the early iterations of Congress was still quite limited to white landowning men, the provision for a salary at least opened the opportunity to more than the wealthy.
While the inclusion of compensation was eventually agreed upon, many framers and the general public still worried that people would greedily enter public office to enrich themselves. James Madison foresaw the complication of allowing Congress to adjust its own salary without some guidelines. He also worried that having the President control congressional salaries could lead to bitter politicking and corruption.

In 1789, Madison and other framers submitted 12 amendments to the U.S. Constitution to the first Congress. The first 10, known as the Bill of Rights, were fully ratified in 1791. The congressional pay provision, however, was only ratified at the time by six states. Because there was no time limit on ratification, what eventually became the 27th Amendment lay dormant for nearly two centuries.

An Unexpected Voice for Change

Gregory Watson was a sophomore studying political science at the University of Texas at Austin in 1982. In a class on constitutional law, students were asked to write about constitutional change and process. Watson’s paper argued that since time limits on ratification were not enumerated anywhere in the Constitution, the congressional pay provision was still “live” and thus could be ratified and implemented.
While Watson received a grade of C for his argument, he did not let that stop his momentum. He initiated a letter-writing campaign to various state legislatures in the hopes of closing the loop on ratification. Starting with Maine and Colorado, states began ratifying the amendment. Watson’s movement gained quite a bit of traction and media attention nationwide.
By 1992, three-quarters of the states reached the necessary consensus as laid out in Article V of the Constitution to legitimize the 27th Amendment. For the first time in history, the Archivist of the United States certified the amendment.

Concerns were raised about the legality of the ratification process after its passage, since the first six states signed on in the 18th century. Some scholars interpret the process of ratification laid out in Article V as needing to be a simultaneous event, with state-by-state ratification taking place within a short time span. This is in sharp contrast to the elongated timeline for the 27th Amendment. The Speaker of the House at the time even proposed litigating its legitimacy until it was clear that the provision had gained widespread popularity among the general public.

The amendment process is an important cornerstone of checks and balances inherent to our democratic system. During every two-year term in the House of Representatives, members of Congress typically propose about 200 amendments, although few ever make it out of committees. Despite its unusual path to ratification, the 27th amendment’s saga is the realization of the framers’ wishes for a participatory and engaged citizenry.

May 2, 2011, Operation Neptune Spear killed Osama Bin Laden. This article, found on Facts.net, details 28 facts about the operation.

The Operation That Ended It All

On May 2, 2011, the world witnessed the end of a chapter in the fight against terrorism. The death of Osama bin Laden marked a significant moment in history. Here are some intriguing facts about that fateful day.

Operation Neptune Spear: The mission to capture or kill Osama bin Laden was named Operation Neptune Spear. It was carried out by the United States Navy SEALs.

Location: Bin Laden was found in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, a city known for its military academy.

SEAL Team 6: The elite SEAL Team 6, also known as DEVGRU, executed the mission.

Helicopter Crash: One of the helicopters used in the raid crashed due to a vortex created by the high walls of the compound. Fortunately, no one was injured.

Stealth Technology: The helicopters used in the raid were modified with stealth technology to avoid detection by Pakistani radar.

40 Minutes: The entire operation lasted approximately 40 minutes from start to finish.

Code Name: Bin Laden’s code name during the operation was “Geronimo.”

DNA Confirmation: Bin Laden’s identity was confirmed through DNA testing, comparing his DNA to that of his sister who had died in Boston.

The Aftermath and Global Reaction

The death of Osama bin Laden had a profound impact globally. Nations reacted, and the world watched closely as details emerged.

Immediate Burial: Bin Laden’s body was buried at sea within 24 hours of his death to adhere to Islamic traditions and prevent his grave from becoming a shrine.

Global Reactions: Countries around the world had mixed reactions. Some celebrated, while others condemned the operation as a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.

Security Alerts: Following the raid, the U.S. and other countries heightened security alerts, anticipating possible retaliatory attacks.

Al-Qaeda’s Response: Al-Qaeda confirmed bin Laden’s death and vowed to continue their fight against the West.

Impact on Terrorism: Bin Laden’s death was a significant blow to Al-Qaeda, but it did not mark the end of terrorism. New leaders emerged, and the fight continued.

The Compound and Its Secrets

The compound where bin Laden was hiding held many secrets and provided valuable intelligence.

High Walls: The compound had unusually high walls, some reaching up to 18 feet, topped with barbed wire.

No Internet or Phone: To avoid detection, the compound had no internet or phone connections.

Burning Trash: Residents of the compound burned their trash instead of putting it out for collection, a practice that raised suspicions.

Intelligence Cache: The raid yielded a treasure trove of intelligence, including computers, hard drives, and documents.

Family Presence: Bin Laden’s family, including his youngest wife and several children, were living with him in the compound.

The Planning and Execution

The planning and execution of the raid were meticulous and involved numerous agencies and months of preparation.

CIA’s Role: The CIA played a crucial role in tracking bin Laden’s courier, which eventually led them to the Abbottabad compound.

Mock Compound: A full-scale replica of the compound was built in the U.S. for SEAL Team 6 to practice the raid.

President’s Decision: President Barack Obama gave the final go-ahead for the operation after months of deliberation and intelligence gathering.

Night Vision Goggles: The SEALs used night vision goggles to navigate the compound in the dark.

Silent Entry: The SEALs used suppressed weapons to maintain the element of surprise.

The Legacy of the Raid

The raid left a lasting legacy, influencing future counter-terrorism operations and shaping public perception.

Hollywood Adaptation: The raid inspired the Hollywood movie “Zero Dark Thirty,” which depicted the hunt for bin Laden.

Public Opinion: The successful operation boosted President Obama’s approval ratings and was seen as a significant achievement of his administration.

Training and Tactics: The raid’s success influenced military training and tactics for future counter-terrorism missions.

Memorials and Tributes: Memorials and tributes were held across the U.S. to honor the victims of 9/11 and the soldiers who carried out the mission.

Ongoing Debate: The legality and ethics of the raid continue to be debated, with discussions about sovereignty, international law, and the use of force.

SOURCE: FACTS.NET