The 28th Amendment proposal isn’t real and is an Internet rumor spread via social media sites including Twitter and Facebook.
The alleged proposed 28th Amendment, which says “Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives.”
According to hoax-buster David Emery, the 28th Amendment rumor has been spread since at least 2009
“Many citizens had no idea that Congress members could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they didn’t pay into Social Security, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws,” it reads in part.
The message about the amendment was first circulated via e-mail before it appeared on Facebook and Twitter.
“Each person contact a minimum of twenty people on their Address list, in turn ask each of those to do likewise. Then in three days, all people in The United States of America will have the Message. This is one proposal that really should be passed around,” the end of the message reads.
In recent days, amid frustration around the government shutdown that has lasted three days, the rumor has circulated once again.
The U.S. Constitution has only 27 amendments. The 27th Amendment was adopted in 1992, which prohibits laws that increase or decrease salaries of members of Congress from taking effect until new terms start. It was originally submitted for ratification in 1989.
According to WJLA, the rumor about the new 28th Amendment is linked to members of Congress being exempt from Social Security payments, which is not true, or being exempt from signing up for Obamacare–also not true.
