A bill to establish an Office of Counsel General in the legislative branch of Government.

Summary

Establishes in the legislative branch the Office of Counsel General. States that there shall be a Counsel General and a Deputy Counsel General, each of whom shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and confirmed by a majority vote of each House. Prescribes the compensation of the Counsel, terms of office, qualifying criteria, and procedure for removal. Makes it the duty of the Counsel General to perform specified functions, including: (1) to render to committees, Members, and disbursing officers of the Congress, the Comptroller General, and other officers exclusively within the legislative branch, legal opinions upon questions arising under the Constitution and laws of the United States; (2) to render to committees and Members advice with respect to the purpose and effect of provisions contained in Acts of the Congress, or to be inserted in proposed legislative measures; and (3) to appear as amicus curiae for the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate or the House of Representatives. Authorizes the Counsel to perform enumerated administrative functions in carrying out the provisions of this Act. Authorizes to be appropriated to the Office of the Counsel General such sums as may be required for the performance of the duties of the Counsel General under this Act. Directs that amounts so appropriated shall be disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate on vouchers approved by the Counsel General.

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Timeline

1. 26 October 1973

   Introduced

   Referred to Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 26 October 1973

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

Votes

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Versions

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Documents

1 official file

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 26 October 1973

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Hartke, Vance [D-IN] · D · Sponsor
• · ssra00 · Standing

Related records

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