An act to provide for the display of the Code of Ethics for Government Service.
Public Law 96-303 · H.R. 5997 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Jul 3, 1980 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Rep. Charles Bennett (D-FL-3)
Cosponsors: None
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.
Requires each Federal agency to display the Code of Ethics for Government Service in appropriate areas of Federal buildings in which 20 or more individuals are regularly employed.
Directs the Administrator of the General Services Administration to provide for the publication and distribution of the Code of Ethics.
Authorizes the Administrator to accept on behalf of the United States any unconditional gift made for purposes of this Act. Declares that no costs shall be imposed on the Government for the printing or other preparation of the Code of Ethics.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Post Office and Civil Service Committee · House · referred to, reported by
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. 13 actions.
- Jul 3, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-303.
- Jul 1, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Jun 27, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Jun 13, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Jun 10, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- Jun 9, 1980FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Jun 4, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- Nov 29, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
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.