Final answer:
The statement is false; Congressional members earn about $115,000 annually, not over $150,000. Salaries are defined by law and are lower for nonprofessional legislatures like the Texas Legislature, where members earn $7,200 annually plus per diem.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that members of Congress earn an annual salary of more than $150,000 is false. The approximate salary for members of Congress is $115,000 per year plus per diem. Contrary to a professional legislature, where members might earn higher salaries and work year-round, some legislatures are nonprofessional or citizen legislatures. An example of this is the Texas Legislature, where members earn $7,200 per year plus per diem and meet primarily during a set period each year.
In history, there were instances, such as after the 1873 session of the Forty-Second Congress, when Congressional salaries were controversial due to a retroactive pay increase. Today, according to the law, Congressional salaries are determined by statute and are disbursed from the Treasury of the United States. Even with salaries lower than $150,000, many members of Congress are nonetheless financially secure. Approximately half of Congress members are millionaires, which might not reflect the average American experience.
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