An act to limit governmental search and seizure of documentary materials possessed by persons, to provide a remedy for persons aggrieved by violations of the provisions of this Act, and for other purposes.
Public Law 96-440 · S. 1790 · 96th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Oct 13, 1980 · Crime and Law Enforcement
Sponsor: Sen. Birch Bayh (D-IN)
Cosponsors (2): Sen. Max Baucus, Sen. John Culver
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 357 yea, 2 nay357–2
- 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.
Privacy Protection Act of 1980 - =Title I: First Amendment Privacy Protection= - Permits government employees to search for and seize work product materials possessed by a person reasonably believed to have a purpose to disseminate to the public a form of public communication only if: (1) there is probable cause to believe that the possessor has committed or is committing the criminal offense for which the materials are sought, with specified exceptions; or (2) immediate seizure is necessary to prevent death or bodily injury.
Permits government employees to search for or seize documentary materials other than work product materials possessed by a person in connection with a purpose to disseminate to the public a form of public communication only if: (1) there is probable cause to believe that the possessor has committed or is committing the criminal offense to which the materials relate; (2) there is reason to believe that immediate seizure is necessary to prevent death or bodily injury; (3) there is reason to believe that a subpoena duces tecum would result in the destruction or concealment of the materials; or (4) the materials have not been produced in response to a subpoena duces tecum.
Gives persons aggrieved by violations of this Act a civil cause of action against the United States, a State which has waived its sovereign immunity, and a State employee who violated this Act while acting in an official capacity in any State which has not waived its immunity. Makes it a complete defense that such an employee had a reasonable good faith belief in the lawfulness of his conduct.
Stipulates that evidence otherwise admissible in a proceeding shall not be excluded on the basis of a violation of this Act.
Entitles aggrieved persons to actual damages and reasonable attorneys' fees. Gives the Federal district courts original jurisdiction of such actions.
Makes this Act effective on January 1, 1981, and to the extent that its provisions apply to State or local governments one year after enactment.
=Title II: Attorney General Guidelines= - Directs the Attorney General to issue guidelines within six months of enactment for the procedures to be employed by a Federal employee to obtain, in connection with the investigation of a criminal offense, documentary materials in the private possession of a person not reasonably believed to be a suspect in such offense, when such materials are not contraband or the fruits of an offense.
Requires the following factors to be incorporated in such guidelines: (1) recognition of the personal privacy interests of the person; (2) a requirement that the least intrusive method of obtaining the materials be used which does not substantially jeopardize their availability; (3) recognition of special concern for privacy interests in cases involving confidential relationships; and (4) a requirement that an application for a search warrant be approved by a Government attorney. Directs the Attorney General to report annually to the congressional judiciary committees on the use of search warrants by Federal employees in cases involving confidential relationships.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 96th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 357 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
357 yea2 nay73 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(224)
- Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
- Rep. Robert GarciaD-NY-21
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
- Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
- Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
- Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
- Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-23
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19- Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
- Rep. Mickey LelandD-TX-18
- Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
- Rep. James CormanD-CA-21
- Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
- Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
- Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
- Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
- Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
- Rep. Theodore WeissD-NY-20
- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
- Rep. Bennett StewartD-IL-1
- Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
- Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9- Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6- Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
- Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
- Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
- Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
- Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
- Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
- Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
- Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
- Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
- Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
- Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7- Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
- Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
- Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
- Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
- Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
- Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
- Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-4
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
- Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-3
- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
- Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
- Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
- Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
- Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
- Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
- Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7- Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
- Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
- Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
- Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
- Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
- Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
- Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
- Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3- Rep. Edward StackD-FL-12
- Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
- Rep. Allan SwiftD-WA-2
- Rep. Michael LowryD-WA-7
- Rep. Michael BarnesD-MD-8
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4- Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
- Rep. Raymond LedererD-PA-3
- Rep. Peter PeyserD-NY-23
- Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
- Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
- Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
- Rep. Geraldine FerraroD-NY-9
- Rep. Anthony CoelhoD-CA-15
- Rep. Howard WolpeD-MI-3
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
- Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
- Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
- Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
- Rep. William RatchfordD-CT-5
- Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-4
- Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
- Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
- Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7- Rep. John BurtonD-CA-5
- Rep. Raphael MustoD-PA-11
- Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
- Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
- Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
- Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
- Rep. Donald BaileyD-PA-21
- Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
- Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
- Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
- Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
- Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
- Rep. Robert YoungD-MO-2
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
- Rep. Cecil HeftelD-HI-1
- Rep. Leo ZeferettiD-NY-15
- Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
- Rep. Frank GuariniD-NJ-14
- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- Rep. Raymond KogovsekD-CO-3
- Rep. Lester WolffD-NY-6
- Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
- Rep. Nicholas MavroulesD-MA-6
- Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
- Rep. Peter KostmayerD-PA-8
- Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
- Rep. Michael SynarD-OK-2
- Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
- Rep. Beryl AnthonyD-AR-4
- Rep. John CavanaughD-NE-2
- Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
- Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
- Rep. Adam BenjaminD-IN-1
- Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
- Rep. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
- Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
- Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
- Rep. Don FuquaD-FL-2
- Rep. Charles WhitleyD-NC-3
- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
- Rep. Wyche FowlerD-GA-5
- Rep. John HutchinsonD-WV-3
- Rep. William BonerD-TN-5
- Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
- Rep. John WilliamsD-MT-1
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5- Rep. Brian DonnellyD-MA-11
- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
- Rep. Earl HuttoD-FL-1
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
- Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
- Rep. Allen ErtelD-PA-17
- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
- Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
- Rep. James MattoxD-TX-5
- Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
- Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
- Rep. Vonno GudgerD-NC-11
- Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
- Rep. Koln McKayD-UT-1
- Rep. Edward BeardD-RI-2
- Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
- Rep. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
- Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
- Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
- Rep. Daniel MicaD-FL-11
- Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
Rep. Bill NelsonD-FL-9- Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
- Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-22
- Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
- Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
- Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
- Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
- Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
- Rep. Billy TauzinD-LA-3
- Rep. Joseph WyattD-TX-14
- Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
- Rep. Billy EvansD-GA-8
- Rep. Ed JenkinsD-GA-9
- Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
- Rep. Wes WatkinsD-OK-3
- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
- Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
- Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
- Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
- Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
- Rep. Andy IrelandD-FL-8
- Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
- Rep. Druie BarnardD-GA-10
- Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
- Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
- Rep. Kent HanceD-TX-19
- Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
- Rep. Eugene AtkinsonD-PA-25
- Rep. Thomas HuckabyD-LA-5
- Rep. Beverly ByronD-MD-6
- Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
- Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
- Rep. James SantiniD-NV
- Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
Rep. Richard ShelbyD-AL-7- Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
- Rep. Douglas ApplegateD-OH-18
- Rep. Sam HallD-TX-1
- Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
- Rep. Phil GrammD-TX-6
- Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
- Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
- Rep. James LeathD-TX-11
- Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
- Rep. Richard IchordD-MO-8
- Rep. Robert StumpD-AZ-3
- Rep. Lawrence McDonaldD-GA-7
Republicans who voted yea(133)
- Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
- Rep. Bill GreenR-NY-18
- Rep. Harold HollenbeckR-NJ-9
- Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
- Rep. Marc MarksR-PA-24
- Rep. Charles DoughertyR-PA-4
- Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
- Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
- Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
- Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
- Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
- Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
- Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
- Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
- Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
- Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
- Rep. Robert DavisR-MI-11
- Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
- Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
- Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
Rep. Olympia SnoweR-ME-2- Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. William ClingerR-PA-23
- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
- Rep. Thomas EvansR-DE
- Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
- Rep. Robert McEwenR-NY-30
- Rep. William RoyerR-CA-11
- Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
- Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
- Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
- Rep. Harold SawyerR-MI-5
- Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
- Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
- Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
- Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
- Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
- Rep. David MarriottR-UT-2
- Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
- Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
- Rep. Arlen ErdahlR-MN-1
- Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
- Rep. Paul TribleR-VA-1
- Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
- Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
- Rep. Robert LivingstonR-LA-1
- Rep. James ClevelandR-NH-2
- Rep. Thomas TaukeR-IA-2
- Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-1
- Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
- Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
- Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
- Rep. Carroll CampbellR-SC-4
- Rep. John WydlerR-NY-5
- Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
- Rep. Huey DeckardR-IN-8
- Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
- Rep. Larry HopkinsR-KY-6
- Rep. Charles PashayanR-CA-17
- Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
- Rep. Thomas CorcoranR-IL-15
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6- Rep. Robert WhittakerR-KS-5
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6- Rep. James CourterR-NJ-13
- Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
- Rep. Edwin BethuneR-AR-2
- Rep. Ronald MarleneeR-MT-2
- Rep. Donald RitterR-PA-15
- Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-37- Rep. Jon HinsonR-MS-4
- Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
Rep. Chuck GrassleyR-IA-3
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5- Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
- Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
- Rep. Newton GingrichR-GA-6
- Rep. Gary LeeR-NY-33
- Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
- Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
- Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
- Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
- Rep. Robert DornanR-CA-27
- Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
- Rep. Arlan StangelandR-MN-7
- Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
- Rep. Wayne GrishamR-CA-33
- Rep. William CarneyR-NY-1
- Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
- Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
- Rep. Richard CheneyR-WY
- Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-18
- Rep. Mickey EdwardsR-OK-5
- Rep. Thomas LoefflerR-TX-21
- Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
- Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
- Rep. Gerald SolomonR-NY-29
- Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
- Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
- Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
- Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
- Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
- Rep. Kenneth KramerR-CO-5
- Rep. Eldon RuddR-AZ-4
- Rep. Robert BadhamR-CA-40
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9- Rep. Samuel DevineR-OH-12
- Rep. Norman ShumwayR-CA-14
Rep. Daniel LungrenR-CA-34- Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
- Rep. Richard KellyR-FL-5
- Rep. John AshbrookR-OH-17
- Rep. John RousselotR-CA-26
- Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
- Rep. William DannemeyerR-CA-39
- Rep. Steven SymmsR-ID-1
- Rep. George HansenR-ID-2
- Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-12
- Rep. Daniel CraneR-IL-22
- Rep. James CollinsR-TX-3
Rep. Ron PaulR-TX-22
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1220 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.
- Oct 13, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-440.
- Oct 2, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Oct 1, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #619 (357-2).House roll call 619
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #619 (357-2).House roll call 619
- Sep 29, 1980Resolving 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 Senate, S. Rept. 96-1003.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 96-1003.
- Sep 26, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-1411.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-1411.
- Sep 24, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Sep 22, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 3486.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- Aug 4, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Jul 28, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Judiciary Committee
- Sep 21, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Judiciary 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.