What is the meaning of "Emolument" in this clause?
Asked by: Prof. Shayna Wiegand Jr. | Last update: March 13, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (3 votes)
"Emolument" means any profit, benefit, advantage, salary, fee, or compensation that arises from holding an office or employment, encompassing not just wages but also perks, bonuses, and other gains, often used in the U.S. Constitution's Emoluments Clauses to prevent corruption and foreign influence on public officials. In a clause, it refers broadly to any financial or material gain flowing from a position of power or service, preventing officials from being swayed by private interests or foreign states.
What does the Emoluments Clause mean?
The Foreign Emoluments Clause bars the president and other federal officials from accepting “any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State” without the consent of Congress.
What does emolument mean?
Emolument is a salary, fee, or profit received as a compensation for services, either from employment or from holding office. In the context of Constitutional Law an emolument is “any perquisite, advantage, profit arising from the possession of an office” as cited by the case of Town of Highlands v. Hendricks.
What is an example of emolument?
Salary is a specific type of emolument. Payment or remuneration for services or loss. Compensation is broader and includes emoluments. Additional perks provided to employees, such as health insurance.
How is emolument different from salary?
Total emoluments encompass more than just your basic salary; they include allowances, bonuses, incentives, and various other perquisites provided by the employer.
The Emolument Clause Explained
Who has violated the emoluments clause?
President Donald Trump is the most prominent recent figure accused of violating the Emoluments Clauses, facing lawsuits and reports alleging foreign and domestic governments paid his businesses (hotels, clubs, real estate) for benefits, creating conflicts of interest with his office, though courts largely dismissed the cases on procedural grounds, and he maintained he did not violate the Constitution. Other officials, like former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, also faced scrutiny, but Trump's extensive business ties and payments from foreign entities generated significant legal challenges and ethical debate during his presidency.
What is included in emoluments?
But what you may not know is that any type of compensation for a job you hold is considered an emolument. This includes things like the salary, benefits, medical leave, and bonuses you receive from your employer.
What are common types of emoluments?
Emolument one-time payment plan choices begin with "Emolument" and include common categories such as cash awards, gifts, non-qualified moving expense (relocation allowance not grossed up and paid through AggieBuy), 90-day reimbursement, etc.
What is the synonym of emolument?
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emoluments. salaries. wages.
What is the purpose of emoluments?
The purpose of the Domestic Emoluments Clause is to preserve the President's independence. Under the Clause, Congress may neither increase nor decrease the President's compensation during his term, preventing the legislature from using its control over the President's salary to exert influence over him.
Can the president make money while in office?
Yes, a president can profit from the presidency, but the Constitution's Emoluments Clauses aim to prevent undue enrichment from foreign or domestic governments, while laws and ethics rules try to limit self-dealing and conflicts, though debates continue over what constitutes impermissible profit versus permissible business (like post-presidency income or family ventures). While federal salary is fixed, presidents often retain business interests, leading to concerns about leveraging the office for personal financial gain, especially with foreign entities or through unique opportunities like fundraising events tied to personal businesses.
How to use emolument in a sentence?
emolument
- The yearly emolument for the position was a deciding factor for many applicants.
- With added responsibilities, he asked his employer for an increase in his emolument.
- Her emolument from serving on the board supplemented her regular income.
What are total emoluments?
Total emolument means the total remuneration payable to an Employee when all allowances to which such Employee is entitled are taken into account in addition to the salary or wage payable to such Employee.
Can a president be removed for violating the constitution?
The impeachment process
The Constitution gives Congress the power to impeach federal officials. An official can be impeached for treason, bribery, and “other high crimes and misdemeanors.” The House of Representatives brings articles (charges) of impeachment against an official.
What does Article 1 Section 8 Clause 8 mean?
Article I, Section 8, Clause 8: [The Congress shall have Power . . . ] To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.
Is the president exempt from the Emoluments Clause?
Most importantly, the president is bound by the Constitution's Emoluments Clause.
What is the most similar word?
Synonyms are words that have the same or very similar meanings.
What is the emoluments clause in the US Constitution?
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
How do you professionally say time consuming?
Professional synonyms for "time-consuming" that sound positive or neutral include laborious, arduous, meticulous, thorough, extensive, detailed, protracted, prolonged, or time-intensive, depending on the context, shifting from negative connotations to emphasizing effort or thoroughness. Use words like protracted or arduous for difficult, drawn-out tasks, and meticulous or thorough when the time spent ensures quality.
What does emolument mean in simple words?
Definitions of emolument. noun. compensation received by virtue of holding an office or having employment (usually in the form of wages or fees)
What are the 5 types of income?
Five common sources of income include earned income (salary/wages from a job), investment income (dividends, interest, capital gains), rental income from property, business/self-employment income, and passive/royalty income from creative works or assets, with tax authorities often categorizing income into heads like Salary, House Property, Business/Profession, Capital Gains, and Other Sources. Diversifying across these areas builds financial security.
Can a president receive money from foreign countries?
Even though heads of state have traditionally exchanged gifts as expressions of goodwill, the Constitution (Article I, Section 9) prohibits anyone in the US Government from receiving a personal gift from a foreign head of state without the consent of Congress.
What are some examples of emoluments?
Emoluments are compensations recorded in Workday that occur outside the regular payroll process. These payments can be either cash or noncash. For example, noncash emoluments might include company cars or housing provided to employees, whereas cash emoluments could be gift cards paid outside the payroll system.
What does personal emolument mean?
personal emoluments means wages or salaries and includes allowances, including benefits in kind, gratuities, superannuation or pension schemes and any other income derived solely by reason of employment as other rank.
What is the difference between salary and emolument?
They are not usually fixed and they are paid per day or per hour BASIS While "salary" refers to a fixed amount of money paid to an employee on a regular basis, "wages" are typically paid based on hourly or daily rates for work done, and "emoluments" encompass the entire compensation package including salary, allowances ...