Ethics in Government Act Amendments of 1982

Summary

Ethics in Government Act Amendments of 1982 - Amends the special prosecutor provisions of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978. Changes the name of the special prosecutor to "independent counsel." Amends the coverage of officials who may be subject to the special prosecutor provisions. Limits coverage of persons in the Executive Office of the President to Level II or above (currently, Level IV or above). Extends coverage to members of the President's family during the incumbency of the President. Defines which national campaign officers are subject to the Act. Includes the chairman and treasurer of the national campaign committee and officers exercising authority at the national level. Makes executive officials subject to the Act during the incumbency of the President under whom they serve, plus one year. (Currently, such officials remain subject to the Act under a successive President of the same political party.) Revises the current standards for determining whether a preliminary investigation is required and for appointing a special prosecutor. Requires the Attorney General to conduct a preliminary investigation upon receiving information "sufficient to constitute grounds to investigate." Requires consideration of the credibility of the source of the information. (Currently, a preliminary investigation is triggered by receipt of "specific information" without consideration of the source's credibility.) Requires appointment of a special prosecutor if there are "reasonable grounds to believe" that further prosecution is warranted. (Currently, a prosecutor must be appointed unless the matter is "so unsubstantiated" that no further prosecution is warranted.) Requires the Attorney General to comply with written policies of the Department of Justice in determining whether appointment of a special prosecutor is warranted. Permits a court to award attorney's fees to subjects of a special prosecutor investigation if no indictment results and the expenses would not otherwise have been incurred. Changes the standard for removal of a special prosecutor from "extraordinary impropriety" to "good cause." Extends the expiration of the special prosecutor provisions from October 26, 1983, to five years after enactment of these amendments.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 3 February 1982

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 3 February 1982

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 19 March 1982

   Referred

   Referred to Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management.

   Source: Committee

4. 28 April 1982

   Committee

   Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management. Hearings held.

   Source: Committee

5. 17 June 1982

   Reported

   Committee on Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.

   Source: Committee

6. 14 July 1982

   Calendars

   Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Regular Orders. Calendar No. 707.

   Source: Calendars

7. 14 July 1982

   Reported

   Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Cohen with amendments. With written report No. 97-496.

   Source: Committee

8. 14 July 1982

   Reported

   Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Cohen with amendments. With written report No. 97-496.

   Source: Committee

9. 12 August 1982

   Passed

   Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.

   Source: Floor

10. 12 August 1982

    Passed

    Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.

    Source: Floor

11. 16 August 1982

    Introduced

    Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

12. 18 August 1982

    Referred

    Referred to Subcommittee on Administrative Law and Governmental Relations.

    Source: Committee

13. 28 September 1982

    Committee

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

    Source: Committee

14. 8 December 1982

    Committee

    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).

    Source: Committee

15. 8 December 1982

    Committee

    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

16. 13 December 1982

    Floor

    Called up by House Under Suspension of Rules.

    Source: Floor

17. 13 December 1982

    Vote

    Passed House (Amended) by Yea-Nay Vote: 347 - 37 (Record Vote No: 439).

    Source: Floor

18. 13 December 1982

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: Passed House (Amended) by Yea-Nay Vote: 347 - 37 (Record Vote No: 439).

    Source: Floor

19. 13 December 1982

    Discharge

    House Committee on The Judiciary Discharged by Suspension of Rules.

    Source: Discharge

20. 13 December 1982

    Committee

    House Committee on The Judiciary Discharged by Suspension of Rules.

    Source: Committee

21. 17 December 1982

    Passed

    Senate agreed to the House amendments by Voice Vote.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

22. 17 December 1982

    Passed

    Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendments by Voice Vote.

    Source: NotUsed

23. 21 December 1982

    Floor

    Measure Signed in Senate.

    Source: Floor

24. 22 December 1982

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

25. 22 December 1982

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

26. 3 January 1983

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 97-409.

    Source: President

27. 3 January 1983

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

28. 3 January 1983

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

5 official files

• Public Law (PDF)

  Public Law · EN · 4 January 1983

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Passed House amended

  summary · EN · 13 December 1982

  Open at official source

• Passed Senate amended

  summary · EN · 12 August 1982

  Open at official source

• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 14 July 1982

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 3 February 1982

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Cohen, William S. [R-ME-2] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Rudman, Warren [R-NH] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Eagleton, Thomas F. [D-MO] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Schmitt, Harrison H. [R-NM] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Sasser, Jim [D-TN] · D · Cosponsor
• · hsju00 · Standing
• · ssga00 · Standing

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.