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National
Key Vote
Establishment of the Office of Congressional Ethics
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a resolution that adopts H. Res. 895, which establishes an Office of Congressional Ethics within the House of Representatives.
NOTE: THIS IS A SIMPLE RESOLUTION. SIMPLE RESOLUTIONS ARE USUALLY USED TO EXPRESS A SENSE OR POSITION OF ONE CHAMBER. SIMPLE RESOLUTIONS DO NOT ADVANCE TO THE OTHER CHAMBER, ARE NOT PRESENTED TO THE PRESIDENT, AND DO NOT CARRY THE WEIGHT OF LAW.
Official Title of Legislation:
H Res 1031: Providing for the adoption of the resolution (H. Res. 895) establishing within the House of Representatives an Office of Congressional Ethics, and for other purposes.
Highlights:
- States that the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) shall be governed by a board of six individuals, three of whom are appointed by the Speaker of the House and three of whom are appointed by the Minority Leader.
- Specifies that the OCE board members may not be current lobbyists, members of the House of Representatives, or officers or employees of the federal government.
- States that the OCE board shall conduct preliminary investigations of any alleged violations by members, officers, or employees of the House of Representatives for up to 30 days, and then either vote to terminate the investigation or begin a second-phase investigation.
- Specifies that a preliminary investigation must be requested by at least one board member who was appointed by the Speaker of the House and at least one board member who was appointed by the Minority Leader.
- States that after a second-phase investigation is completed, the OCE board shall report to the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct with a recommendation for dismissal of the alleged violation, a statement that the matter is unresolved because of a tie vote, or a recommendation for further investigation, with suggestions for any subpoenas to be issued.
- Specifies that if the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct continues to investigate the matter, the OCE board's findings and reports shall be made public after the conclusion of the investigation, but if the Committee dismisses the allegation, the OCE board's findings and reports are not required to be made public.
Link to Legislation: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:hres1031:
House Passage: 03/11/2008 : Resolution Passed 229 - 182 (Roll no. 122)
NOTE: THIS IS A SIMPLE RESOLUTION. SIMPLE RESOLUTIONS ARE USUALLY USED TO EXPRESS A SENSE OR POSITION OF ONE CHAMBER. SIMPLE RESOLUTIONS DO NOT ADVANCE TO THE OTHER CHAMBER, ARE NOT PRESENTED TO THE PRESIDENT, AND DO NOT CARRY THE WEIGHT OF LAW.
Sponsor: Rep. Sutton, Betty (D-OH)
PVS provides summaries for each version of the bill selected as a key vote. The summary does not necessarily reflect the final version of the bill. For further status information, call the Voter's Research Hotline at 1-888-VOTE-SMART (1-888-868-3762).
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