Independent Special Prosecutor Act
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary.
Independent Special Prosecutor Act - Establishes an Independent Special Prosecution Office responsible for investigating and initiating prosecution of all offenses and other matters arising out of the Presidential election of 1972 and relating to such election, including all matters which were properly under investigation by the special prosecution force prior to October 19, 1973, pursuant to the agreement made between the former Special Prosecutor and the Attorney General designate on May 19, 1973. Provides that the Office shall be headed by a Special Prosecutor, appointed by the Attorney General, within fifteen days after the date of enactment of this Act, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Grants the Special Prosecutor exclusive jurisdiction, to investigate and prosecute on behalf of the United States: (1) offenses arising out of the unauthorized entry into Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate; (2) other offenses arising out of the 1972 Presidential election; (3) offenses alleged to have been committed by the President, Presidential appointees, or members of the White House staff in relation to the 1972 Presidential campaign and election; (4) all other matters heretofore referred to the former Special Prosecutor pursuant to regulation of the Attorney General; (5) offenses relating to or arising out of any such matters. Provides that all materials, tapes, documents, files, work in progress, information, and all other property relevant to the duties of the Special Prosecutor under this Act, collected by or in the possession of the former Special Prosecutor shall be delivered to the Special Prosecutor appointed under this Act. States that all investigations, prosecutions, cases, litigation, and grand jury or other proceedings initiated by the former Special Prosecutor regulations of the Attorney General (28 C.F.R. Sec. 0.37, rescinded October 24, 1973), shall be continued, as the Special Prosecutor deems appropriate. Provides an annual salary for the Special Prosecutor equal to the annual salary and expense allowance payable to a judge of the United States district court. Provides that the Special Prosecutor shall have the power to appoint, fix the compensation, and assign the duties of such employees as he deems necessary. Requires the Special Prosecutor to submit to the Congress directly requests for such funds, facilities, and legislation as necessary. Directs the Special Prosecutor to carry out his duties and responsibilities under this Act within two years, except as necessary to complete trial or appellate action on indictments then pending. States that the Special Prosecutor and the Deputy Special Prosecutor may not be removed by the Attorney General except for death, physical or mental incapacity to perform the duties of his office, neglect of duty, malfeasance in office, or violation of this Act, and then only after thirty days prior notice to the Congress and if no action of disapproval of such action of removal is taken by the Congress. Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on November 30, 1973. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on November 30, 1973: Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 93rd Congress (1973-74), 651 of the 23,396 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 2.8 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
SAMUEL YOUNG (R-IL) introduced it on November 30, 1973, and 3 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They are 3 Republicans.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on November 30, 1973, 19277 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 19277 days ago, on November 30, 1973.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 93rd Congress has not finished by January 3, 1975 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers