Congress shall not exempt itself from any law.

Congress shall have no power to exempt itself from any law or be separately classified so as to be treated differently from the people generally.

It is common knowledge that Congress exempts itself from numerous laws that it imposes on Americans generally. Some of these laws are OSHA, the Freedom of Information Act, the National Labor Relations Act, and Civil Rights Act. James Madison said that Congress “can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass of society.” Federalist No. 57.

Most people believe Congress should live by the same laws that it imposes upon others. This amendment assures that result.