A bill to ensure that the compensation and other emoluments attached to the office of Secretary of State are those which were in effect January 1, 1977.
Public Law 96-241 · S. 2637 · 96th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on May 3, 1980 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Sen. Abraham Ribicoff (D-CT)
Cosponsors (6): Sen. Frank Church, Sen. John Glenn,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- 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.
Reduces the compensation and other emoluments of the office of Secretary of State to the level of compensation and emoluments in effect on January 1, 1977. Requires that such level of compensation and emoluments be maintained until the earlier of noon of January 3, 1983, or the date on which the first individual appointed to the office of Secretary of State after enactment of this Act ceases to hold that office.
Authorizes any person aggrieved by an action of the first Secretary of State appointed after enactment of this Act to bring an action in any U.S. district court to contest the constitutionality of the appointment of such Secretary. Directs any judge designated to hear such an action to give such action expedited consideration.
Committees
The record shows no committee referral for this bill.
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. 10 actions.
- May 3, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-241.
- May 2, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- May 1, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed House.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- 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.