Federal Question Jurisdictional Amendments Act of 1980
Public Law 96-486 · S. 2357 · 96th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Dec 1, 1980 · Law
Sponsor: Sen. Howard Metzenbaum (D-OH)
Cosponsors (2): Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sen. Howell Heflin
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.
Federal Question Jurisdictional Amendments Act of 1980 - Abolishes the amount in controversy jurisdictional requirement in Federal question cases.
Requires, in suits for damages brought under the Consumer Product Safety Act, that the matter in controversy exceed the sum or value of $10,000. Excepts from such requirement actions brought against the United States, or Federal agencies or employees. Authorizes a district court to deny costs to, or impose costs on, a plaintiff who is finally adjudged to recover less than $10,000.
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. 13 actions.
- Dec 1, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-486.
- Nov 19, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Nov 18, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Nov 17, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- Nov 13, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
- Jul 1, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
- Jun 28, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Jun 20, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Judiciary Committee
- Feb 28, 1980CommitteeCommittee · 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.