Department of Peace Organization Act of 1979
Latest action. Referred to Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs.
Department of Peace Organization Act of 1979 - Title I: Department of Peace - Establishes a Department of Peace to: (1) develop and recommend to the President plans to foster peace; and (2) cooperate with other nations in research and planning for the peaceful resolution of international conflicts. Provides for the appointment of a Secretary of Peace. Requires the Secretary to make recommendations for the peaceful settlement of current international controversies in which the United States has or claims an interest. Directs the Secretary to establish a Cultural Exchange Division to assist the interchange of ideas between private groups in the United States and those in other countries. Provides for the appointments of an Under Secretary of Peace, four Assistant Secretaries of Peace, and a General Counsel. Transfers the following agencies and functions to the Department: (1) the International Development Cooperation Agency; (2) the ACTION Agency; (3) the functions of the President under the Peace Corps Act; (4) the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency; (5) the functions of the Secretary of State relating to U.S. participation in specialized international agencies in the economic, social, cultural, educational, health, and related fields; and (6) other functions determined by the President to relate primarily to the Department's functions. Directs the Secretary to prepare and transmit to Congress a proposed codification of all laws which authorize functions transferred to the Secretary by this title. Title II: National Peace Academy - Establishes a National Peace Academy in the Department to train U.S. citizens for service in programs promoting international and domestic understanding and peace. Provides for a Director, staff, and instructors for the Academy. Establishes a Board of Trustees of the Academy to advise the Secretary on the operation of the Academy. Specifies the composition of the Board. Sets forth the duties of the Board. Authorizes 150 students at the Academy. Entitles students to stipends and travel and transportation allowances. Specifies elements to be included in the course of instruction. Requires students to agree to complete the course of instruction and accept employment for at least two years with an international organization engaged in promoting international understanding and peace. Title III: United States Peace Award Commission - Establishes the U.S. Peace Award Commission in the Department to make awards to U.S. citizens and foreign citizens who have made notable contributions to peace and conflict resolution. Directs the Commission to develop a method for distributing the awards that maximizes public awareness of the goals of the awards. Specifies the composition of the Commission. Provides for a Director and a staff of the Commission. Sets forth the administrative authority of the Commission. Title IV: General Provisions - Sets forth the administrative authority of the Secretary. Provides for the transfer of personnel in connection with the functions transferred to the Department. Directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to make additional incidental dispositions that are determined to be necessary. Requires the Secretary to report annually to the President for submission to Congress on the Department's activities. Amends the United Nations Participation Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Peace to advise the President on appointments to the United Nations or its related organizations.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in Senate" stage on December 7, 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 December 7, 1979: Referred to Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs.
- 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?
SPARK MATSUNAGA (D-HI) introduced it on December 7, 1979, and 2 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 1 Democrat, 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 December 7, 1979, 17079 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17079 days ago, on December 7, 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