emoluments clause
noun
variants
or Emoluments Clause
1
or foreign emoluments clause
: a clause in Article 1, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution that prohibits federal officeholders from accepting any present, emolument, office, or title from any foreign state or its rulers or representatives
2
or domestic emoluments clause
: a clause in Article 2, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution that prohibits the president from receiving any emolument from the federal government or from any state other than the compensation Section 1 provides for service as chief executive
Examples of emoluments clause in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Meanwhile, Free Speech For People also claims that Trump violated the emoluments clauses of the Constitution, which limits what gifts and titles federal officials can receive.
—
Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
The lawmakers warned that this could violate the emoluments clause of the Constitution, which prohibits government officials from accepting payments or gifts from foreign entities without congressional approval.
—Jeff Cox,mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2025
There’s also the question of whether foreign governments could buy into the coin, potentially violating the foreign emoluments clause of the Constitution.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
Between the lines: The emoluments clause of the Constitution, written in 1787, hardly envisaged a world where a president could conjure billions of dollars of wealth out of nowhere just by endorsing a meme.
—Felix Salmon, Axios, 19 Jan. 2025
Like with his hotels, spending through his social media company is also likely to raise concerns over possible violations of the emoluments clauses of the Constitution.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 26 Nov. 2024
Trump’s first election brought about unprecedented controversy surrounding his business relationships, conflicts of interest, foreign influence, and the constitutional emoluments clause.
—Paula Aceves, Curbed, 31 Oct. 2024
The foreign emoluments clause of Article I, Section 9, is a further expression of the fear that other countries could seduce the president from his proper allegiance.
—Frank O. Bowman Iii, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2019
Lawsuits accusing Trump of violating the emoluments clauses in the Constitution during his presidency were unsuccessful.
—Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
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Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
The lawmakers warned that this could violate the emoluments clause of the Constitution, which prohibits government officials from accepting payments or gifts from foreign entities without congressional approval.
—Jeff Cox,mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2025
There’s also the question of whether foreign governments could buy into the coin, potentially violating the foreign emoluments clause of the Constitution.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
Between the lines: The emoluments clause of the Constitution, written in 1787, hardly envisaged a world where a president could conjure billions of dollars of wealth out of nowhere just by endorsing a meme.
—Felix Salmon, Axios, 19 Jan. 2025
Like with his hotels, spending through his social media company is also likely to raise concerns over possible violations of the emoluments clauses of the Constitution.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 26 Nov. 2024
Trump’s first election brought about unprecedented controversy surrounding his business relationships, conflicts of interest, foreign influence, and the constitutional emoluments clause.
—Paula Aceves, Curbed, 31 Oct. 2024
The foreign emoluments clause of Article I, Section 9, is a further expression of the fear that other countries could seduce the president from his proper allegiance.
—Frank O. Bowman Iii, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2019
Lawsuits accusing Trump of violating the emoluments clauses in the Constitution during his presidency were unsuccessful.
—Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Emoluments clause.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emoluments%20clause. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.
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