Reading Room Document

Appointment of Congressman to the Office of Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity

The document is a memorandum discussing the appointment of a member of the House of Representatives as Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity. The conclusion reached is that there is no constitutional bar to the appointment, despite the increase in emoluments of the office. The document presents two questions for review: whether there has been an increase in emolument of the office within the constitutional prohibition, and whether a retroactive disqualification would occur if the compensation of the office is increased after the appointment of a Director. These questions are analyzed in detail, and the conclusion is that there is no constitutional bar to the appointment of a member of the 91st Congress as Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity.

April 18, 1969