Oregon Constitution ARTICLE XIII SALARIES
Oregon Constitution – Article XIII: Salaries
Summary:
Article XIII of the Oregon Constitution governs salaries of public officers in the state. It contains provisions related to how and when salaries of certain state officials can be set, changed, or restricted.
🔑 Key Points of Article XIII – Salaries:
Fixed Salaries by Law:
The salaries of state officers, such as the Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, and judges, must be set by law.
This means the Oregon Legislature determines their pay, not the officials themselves.
No Mid-Term Salary Increase:
A state officer’s salary cannot be increased or decreased during the term for which they were elected or appointed.
This provision prevents conflicts of interest or potential abuses where lawmakers might vote to raise their own pay mid-term.
Legislative Salaries:
Members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly are also covered under this article, and their compensation is determined similarly.
Amendments Over Time:
Article XIII has been amended and expanded several times to clarify salary rules or adjust to new state positions.
📜 Purpose:
The main purpose of Article XIII is to:
Ensure fairness and transparency in public service compensation.
Avoid self-enrichment by elected officials during their term.
Create consistent standards across state-level offices.
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