Comprehensive Counterterrorism Act of 1979
Latest action. Referred to Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
Comprehensive Counterterrorism Act of 1979 - Title I: Presidential Coordination of Counterterrorism Programs; Emergency Measures; LEAA State Plans - Directs the President to perform specified functions to assure coordinated and effective use of Federal, State, and local programs relating to terrorism, including: (1) insuring adequate collection of information; (2) directing research efforts; and (3) preparing annual reports with respect to terrorist groups and the capabilities of Federal, State, and local governments and the private sector to counter terrorist threats. Authorizes the President to declare by proclamation that a state of terrorist emergency exists upon a determination that a terrorist incident, a series of terrorist incidents, or the threat or the consequences of a terrorist incident: (1) so hinders the execution of Federal or State law that any person in a State is deprived of a constitutional right which the authorities of such State are unable to protect; (2) obstructs the execution of Federal law or impedes the course of justice under those laws; or (3) impedes or obstructs interstate or foreign commerce. Directs the President to take necessary measures during any such period to resolve the terrorist incident and vindicate the constitutional rights. Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to require State plans to include contingency plans for dealing with terrorist activities and meeting the standards provided for in this Act. Title II: Interception of Wire or Oral Communications Relating to Terrorist Activities - Authorizes a Federal judge to grant an order approving the interception by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of wire or oral communications which provide information which is necessary to protect against terrorist activities. Requires the Attorney General to inform the congressional committees on the judiciary concerning each such interception. Stipulates that the procedure for such interception shall generally be the same as is required under title III of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (as amended by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978), with respect to international terrorist activities.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in Senate" stage on May 24, 1979. 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 May 24, 1979: Referred to Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the Senate
- Passage by the House
- 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 96th Congress (1979-80), 613 of the 12,581 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.9 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?
ADLAI STEVENSON (D-IL) introduced it on May 24, 1979, and 1 member has since signed on as a cosponsor.
They are 1 Republican.
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 May 24, 1979, 17276 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17276 days ago, on May 24, 1979.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 96th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1981 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
- SenateIn committee, no floor vote yet
- HouseAwaits Senate passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers