Public Prosecutor Act of 1980
Latest action. Referred to Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
Public Prosecutor Act of 1980 - Title I: Judicial Code Amendments - Establishes within the Department of Justice the Office of the Public Prosecutor under the direction of the Public Prosecutor appointed by the President. Directs the Public Prosecutor to exercise the powers granted by this Act independent of supervision by the President or Attorney General. Requires the President to appoint a Deputy Public Prosecutor who is not of the same political party as the Public Prosecutor. Provides that the Public Prosecutor and Deputy Public Prosecutor shall hold office for single six-year terms. Sets forth the qualifications for such officials and the circumstances under which they may be removed from office. Grants jurisdiction to the Public Prosecutor to exercise the power specified by this Act, concurrent with those of the Attorney General, with respect to any matter for which there is reasonable cause to believe involves the violation of any Federal criminal law (other than a petty offense) by the following individuals: (1) the President or Vice President; (2) a Member of Congress; (3) the Director or Deputy Director of Central Intelligence; (4) the Commissioner of Internal Revenue; (5) individuals working in the Executive Office of the President who are compensated at least at the level IV rate; (6) individuals working in the Department of Justice who are compensated at least at the level III rate; (7) individuals working at level I and II positions of the Executive Schedule; (8) employees of Congress compensated at least at the annual rate of $35,000; (9) the administrative assistant, chief legislative assistant, and press secretary for each Member of Congress; (10) employees of Congress designated to handle campaign funds; and (11) a national campaign manager of a presidential campaign. Directs the Attorney General, upon notice from the Public Prosecutor that an investigation is pending, to refrain from any investigation or prosecution with respect to the same subject matter. Authorizes the Public Prosecutor, upon notice from the Attorney General that an investigation is likely to involve the Public Prosecutor's jurisdiction, to assume sole responsibility for the investigation, participate in such investigation with the Attorney General, or defer to the Attorney General's supervision. Enumerates the powers of the Public Prosecutor, including all those with respect to criminal investigations, prosecutions, civil proceedings, and appeals which would otherwise be vested in the Attorney General. Directs the Public Prosecutor to report annually to the congressional judiciary committees with respect to implementation of this Act, including legislative recommendations to insure ethics within the Government. Title II: Criminal Code Amendments - Amends the Federal criminal code to include the Public Prosecutor, the Deputy Public Prosecutor, and their staff members among those to whom specified crimes relating to conflicts of interest are applicable. Extends the current prohibition against the disclosure of confidential information by Government employees to include the disclosure of information or evidence obtained by the Public Prosecutor. Title III: Miscellaneous - Sets forth miscellaneous provisions.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in Senate" stage on February 7, 1980. 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 February 7, 1980: 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?
LOWELL WEICKER (R-CT) introduced it on February 7, 1980, 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 February 7, 1980, 17017 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17017 days ago, on February 7, 1980.
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