NCJ Number
63796
Date Published
1977
Length
206 pages
Annotation
A REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS DESCRIBES THE PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS INTEGRITY ACT OF 1977 AND RECOMMENDS THAT IT BE ENACTED.
Abstract
THE NEED FOR REVISED LEGISLATION GOVERNING THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND INTEGRITY OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS IS DISCUSSED USING HISTORICAL EXAMPLES OF CASES OF ALLEGED CRIMINAL OR CIVIL OFFENSES COMMITTED BY HIGH OFFICIALS. INADEQUACIES IN EXISTING LEGISLATION ARE ALSO DETAILED. THE 1977 BILL CONTAINS FIVE PRINCIPAL SECTIONS. TITLE I MANDATES THE APPOINTMENT OF A TEMPORARY SPECIAL PROSECUTOR WHEN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR WHEN AN INVESTIGATION COULD BE MORE EFFECTIVELY CONDUCTED OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT. AN OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT CRIMES WOULD BE ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WITH JURISDICTION OVER CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS COMMITTED BY OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. TITLE II CREATES AN OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL LEGAL COUNSEL, REMOVING THE FUNCTION OF REPRESENTING CONGRESS IN LITIGATION FROM THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND PROVIDING CONGRESS WITH IMPROVED MEANS TO ENFORCE ITS SUBPOENAS. TITLE III REQUIRES PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS OF HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES IN THE EXECUTIVE, JUDICIAL, AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. TITLE IV ESTABLISHES AN OFFICE OF ETHICS WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION TO CENTRALIZE ENFORCEMENT OF REGULATIONS GOVERNING ETHICAL CONDUCT AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS AND TO INFORM ALL PERSONNEL ABOUT SUCH LAWS AND REGULATIONS. TITLE V IMPOSES RESTRICTIONS ON THE POSTEMPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES OF OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IN ORDER TO PREVENT CORRUPTION AND PUNISH EXERCISE OF UNDUE INFLUENCE. THE REPORT PROVIDES A SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE BILL, INDIVIDUAL PROVISIONS AND INCLUDES ACTUAL TEXT. CHANGES WHICH THE LEGISLATION MAKES IN EXISTING UNITED STATES CODE ARE DETAILED, AND ESTIMATED COSTS ARE GIVEN FOR IMPLEMENTING EACH PROVISION. (MJM)