Download This PaperThe Meaning of 'Emoluments' as Employed in the Constitution of the United States
9 Pages Posted: 1 Dec 2019
Date Written: November 15, 2019
Abstract
The Constitution forbids any federal official's receipt of "emoluments" from a foreign government. This rarely-invoked provision has recently come to prominence, with the argument that the president's interest in his hotel chain, which receives room rentals from foreign officials, violates the prohibition. This paper explores the meaning of the term as it was understood at the time of the Framing. It concludes that the predominant understanding of the term was compensation (including perquisites and "fringe benefits") from holding an office.
Keywords: emoluments
JEL Classification: K19, K42
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Hardy, David T., The Meaning of 'Emoluments' as Employed in the Constitution of the United States (November 15, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3487898 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3487898
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