An Act to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to make it unlawful for an issuer of securities registered pursuant to section 12 of such Act or an issuer required to file reports pursuant to section 15(d) of such Act to make certain payments to foreign officials and other foreign persons, to require such issuers to maintain accurate records, and for other purposes.
Public Law 95-213 · S. 305 · 95th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Dec 19, 1977 · Finance and Financial Sector
Sponsor: Sen. William Proxmire (D-WI)
Cosponsors (1): Sen. Harrison Williams
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 349 yea, 0 nay349–0
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
=Title I: Foreign Corrupt Practices= - Foreign Corrupt Practices Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act to require specified issuers of securities to make and keep books, records and accounts, and to devise and maintain a system of internal accounting controls.
Makes it unlawful for an issuer of registered securities or an issuer required to file certain reports, under such Act, to make payments to foreign officials to influence an official act of such official or to influence an act or decision by a foreign government.
Makes it unlawful for a domestic concern to use the mails or interstate commerce to make payments to such foreign officials.
Subjects violating persons to a fine of not more than $10,000, or imprisonment of not more than five years, or both, and violating corporations to a fine of not more than $1,000,000. Defines "domestic concern" for purposes of this Act.
=Title II: Disclosure= - Domestic and Foreign Investment Improved Disclosure Act - Expands the disclosure requirements of beneficial owners of more than five percent of specified kinds of securities to include disclosure of: (1) the background, identify, residence, and citizenship of, and the nature of the beneficial ownership of, the person acquiring the securities and all other persons by whom or on whose behalf the purchases have been or are to be effected; (2) the source and amount of the funds or other consideration used or to be used in making the purchases; and (3) information as to any contracts, arrangements, or understandings with respect to any securities of the issuer.
Requires any person who is directly or indirectly the beneficial owner of more than five percent of specified classes of securities to report such interest and other information in such form and at such intervals as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) shall prescribe by rule, including: (1) such person's identity, residence, and citizenship; and (2) the number and description of the shares, and the nature of the interest.
Allows the Commission to take such steps as it deems necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors, to comply with this Act. Permits the Commission to exempt any person or class of persons from these reporting requirements.
Directs the SEC to report to Congress as to the effectiveness of the ownership reporting requirements and the desirability or feasibility of modifying the five percent threshold used.
Authorizes the SEC to define by rules and regulations the term "held of record" as it deems necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 95th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 352 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
352 yea0 nay82 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(232)
- Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
- Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19- Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
- Rep. James CormanD-CA-21
- Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
- Rep. Yvonne BurkeD-CA-28
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9- Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
- Rep. Robert NixD-PA-2
- Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
- Rep. John McFallD-CA-14
- Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
- Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
- Rep. Theodore WeissD-NY-20
- Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
- Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
- Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
- Rep. William FordD-MI-15
Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6- Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
- Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
- Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
- Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
- Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
- Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
- Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
- Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7- Rep. Michael HarringtonD-MA-6
- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16- Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
- Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
- Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7- Rep. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
- Rep. Donald FraserD-MN-5
- Rep. Ozzie MyersD-PA-1
- Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
- Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
- Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
- Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
- Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
- Rep. Charles CarneyD-OH-19
- Rep. Robert LeggettD-CA-4
- Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
- Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
- Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
- Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
- Rep. Abner MikvaD-IL-10
- Rep. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
- Rep. Raymond LedererD-PA-3
- Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
- Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
- Rep. James BurkeD-MA-11
- Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
- Rep. Joseph LeFanteD-NJ-14
- Rep. Frank EvansD-CO-3
- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
- Rep. Frederick RooneyD-PA-15
- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
- Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
- Rep. Helen MeynerD-NJ-13
- Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
- Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
- Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
- Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
- Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
- Rep. George ShipleyD-IL-22
- Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
- Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
- Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
- Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
- Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
- Rep. John JenretteD-SC-6
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
- Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
- Rep. Paul TsongasD-MA-5
- Rep. Edward BeardD-RI-2
- Rep. Thomas SteedD-OK-4
- Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
- Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
- Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
- Rep. Bernice SiskD-CA-15
Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2- Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
- Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
- Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6- Rep. James DelaneyD-NY-9
- Rep. John YoungD-TX-14
- Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
- Rep. Leo RyanD-CA-11
- Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-4
- Rep. James TuckerD-AR-2
- Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
- Rep. Edward PattisonD-NY-29
- Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
- Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
- Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
- Rep. John SlackD-WV-3
- Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7- Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
- Rep. Robert CornellD-WI-8
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Cecil HeftelD-HI-1
- Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
- Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
- Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
- Rep. Joseph AmmermanD-PA-23
- Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
- Rep. Robert YoungD-MO-2
- Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
- Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
- Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
- Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
- Rep. Mark HannafordD-CA-34
- Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
- Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
- Rep. Koln McKayD-UT-1
- Rep. John KrebsD-CA-17
- Rep. Michael BlouinD-IA-2
- Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-4
- Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
- Rep. Adam BenjaminD-IN-1
- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
- Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
- Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
- Rep. Leo ZeferettiD-NY-15
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
- Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
- Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
- Rep. Douglas ApplegateD-OH-18
- Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
- Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
- Rep. Clifford AllenD-TN-5
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
- Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-22
- Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
- Rep. George MahonD-TX-19
- Rep. John BreckinridgeD-KY-6
- Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
- Rep. John CavanaughD-NE-2
- Rep. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5- Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
- Rep. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
- Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4- Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
- Rep. Wyche FowlerD-GA-5
- Rep. Martha KeysD-KS-2
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
- Rep. Ed JenkinsD-GA-9
- Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
- Rep. Walter FlowersD-AL-7
- Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
- Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
- Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
- Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. Peter KostmayerD-PA-8
- Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
- Rep. Paul RogersD-FL-11
- Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
- Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
- Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
- Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
- Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
- Rep. Robert SikesD-FL-1
- Rep. Vonno GudgerD-NC-11
- Rep. James MannD-SC-4
- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
- Rep. Charles WhitleyD-NC-3
- Rep. Otis PikeD-NY-1
- Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
- Rep. James SantiniD-NV
- Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
- Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
- Rep. Thomas LukenD-OH-2
- Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
- Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
- Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
- Rep. Herbert RobertsD-TX-4
- Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
- Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
- Rep. Goodloe ByronD-MD-6
- Rep. Andy IrelandD-FL-8
- Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
- Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
- Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
- Rep. Wes WatkinsD-OK-3
- Rep. Thomas HuckabyD-LA-5
- Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
- Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
- Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
- Rep. Olin TeagueD-TX-6
- Rep. William PoageD-TX-11
- Rep. Joseph WaggonnerD-LA-4
- Rep. John FlyntD-GA-6
- Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
- Rep. Ronald MottlD-OH-23
- Rep. Richard IchordD-MO-8
- Rep. Omar BurlesonD-TX-17
- Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
- Rep. Robert StumpD-AZ-3
- Rep. David SatterfieldD-VA-3
- Rep. Lawrence McDonaldD-GA-7
Republicans who voted yea(120)
- Rep. Newton SteersR-MD-8
- Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
- Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
- Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
- Rep. Harold HollenbeckR-NJ-9
- Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Marc MarksR-PA-24
- Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
- Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
- Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
- Rep. William WalshR-NY-33
- Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
- Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
- Rep. Joe SkubitzR-KS-5
- Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
- Rep. John AndersonR-IL-16
- Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
- Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
- Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
- Rep. William CohenR-ME-2
- Rep. Larry PresslerR-SD-1
- Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
- Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
- Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
- Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
- Rep. Ronald SarasinR-CT-5
- Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
- Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
- Rep. Bruce CaputoR-NY-23
- Rep. Elford CederbergR-MI-10
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
- Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
- Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
- Rep. Shirley PettisR-CA-37
- Rep. Thomas EvansR-DE
- Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
- Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
- Rep. Robert McEwenR-NY-30
- Rep. Charles ThoneR-NE-1
- Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
Rep. Thad CochranR-MS-4- Rep. Ronald MarleneeR-MT-2
- Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
- Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
- Rep. Paul TribleR-VA-1
- Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
- Rep. Herbert BurkeR-FL-12
- Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
- Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
- Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
- Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
- Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
- Rep. Keith SebeliusR-KS-1
- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
- Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
- Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5- Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
- Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
- Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
- Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-1
- Rep. James ClevelandR-NH-2
- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
- Rep. Robert KastenR-WI-9
- Rep. Thomas CorcoranR-IL-15
- Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
- Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
- Rep. Charles WigginsR-CA-39
- Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
- Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
- Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
- Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
- Rep. Arlan StangelandR-MN-7
- Rep. David TreenR-LA-3
- Rep. William KetchumR-CA-18
- Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
- Rep. Gary MyersR-PA-25
- Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
- Rep. James MartinR-NC-9
- Rep. Garry BrownR-MI-3
- Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6- Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
- Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
- Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
- Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
Rep. Chuck GrassleyR-IA-3- Rep. John WydlerR-NY-5
- Rep. William SteigerR-WI-6
- Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
- Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
- Rep. David StockmanR-MI-4
- Rep. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
- Rep. Mickey EdwardsR-OK-5
- Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
- Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
- Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
- Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
- Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
- Rep. Robert DornanR-CA-27
- Rep. Samuel DevineR-OH-12
- Rep. Eldon RuddR-AZ-4
- Rep. William ArmstrongR-CO-5
- Rep. Robert BadhamR-CA-40
- Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
- Rep. Delwin ClawsonR-CA-33
- Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
- Rep. John AshbrookR-OH-17
- Rep. John RousselotR-CA-26
- Rep. George HansenR-ID-2
- Rep. James CollinsR-TX-3
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 699 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 21 actions.
- Dec 19, 1977Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-213.
- Dec 8, 1977PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Dec 7, 1977Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #773 (349-0).House roll call 773
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #773 (349-0).House roll call 773
- Dec 6, 1977Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-831.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-831.
- Nov 3, 1977Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Nov 1, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 3815.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Energy and Commerce Committee
- May 9, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
- May 5, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- May 2, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
- Jan 18, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.