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

The report claims that the payments violated the Constitution's foreign emoluments clause, a rule that bars the president and other federal officials from accepting money or gifts from foreign governments without Congressional approval. —Will Steakin, ABC News, 4 Jan. 2024

Washington – The Supreme Court on Monday tossed out disputes claiming former President Donald Trump was profiting from the presidency through his continued financial interest in his private company in violation of the Constitution's emoluments clause. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined at sense 2