<P> In 2002, the average congressional pension payment ranged from $41,000 to $55,000 . As of November 2014, senior Members of Congress who have been in office for at least 32 years can earn about $139,000 a year . </P> <P> In 2003, after James Traficant was expelled from Congress, several Congressmen tried passing a bill that would prevent expelled members from receiving their pensions . The bill was stalled and eventually dropped after being sent to the House Administration and Reforms committee for review . In 2007, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act was enacted; this act provides that a member of Congress convicted of one or more of a list of enumerated felonies (those relating to corruption, election crimes, or official misconduct) will forfeit his or her pension . </P> <P> Former congressman Ron Paul refused to participate in the congressional pension system, labeling it "immoral ." North Carolina congressman Howard Coble did not participate in the pension system, either . He campaigned against the system in his first campaign in 1984 . </P>

Members of congress retire at full pay after one term