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
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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

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of emoluments clause was in 1906

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Cite this Entry

“Emoluments clause.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emoluments%20clause. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

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