Article I · Section 6 of 10
Pay and limits for members
Article I: Congress
The one-line version
Members are paid, protected for speech in Congress, and cannot hold another federal office.
Section 6 in plain English
Members of Congress are paid a salary set by law, from the U.S. Treasury.
Note: The Twenty-Seventh Amendment (1992) says a pay change for Congress cannot take effect until after the next House election.
Members cannot be arrested while going to, attending, or returning from Congress. This does not cover treason, felony, or breach of the peace. Members cannot be sued or charged elsewhere for what they say in Congress.
A member cannot take a federal job that was created, or got a raise, during their term. A person holding a federal office cannot serve in Congress at the same time.
Original text, 1788
The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.
No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.