The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787/Volume 3/Appendix A/CCXXXVI

by Max Farrand

ⅭⅭⅩⅩⅩⅥ. A Citizen of New Haven [Roger Sherman], Ⅰ.^[1]

It is proposed that members of congress be rendered ineligible to any other office during the time for which they are elected members of that body.

This is an objection that will admit of something plausible to be said on both sides, and it was settled in convention on full discussion and deliberation. There are some offices which a member of congress may be best qualified to fill, from his knowledge of public affairs acquired by being a member, such as minister to foreign courts, &c., and on accepting any other office his seat in congress will be vacated, and no member is eligible to any office that shall have been instituted or the emoluments increased while he was a member.

1. P. L. Ford, Essays on the Constitution, p. 234; printed in the New Haven Gazette, December 4, 1788.