Congress · Laws

Ethics in Government Act Amendments of 1982

Public Law 97-409 · S. 2059 · 97th Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Jan 3, 1983 · Government Operations and Politics

Sponsor: Sen. William Cohen (R-ME)

Cosponsors (6): Sen. Carl Levin, Sen. Warren Rudman,

Passage votesYeaNay

HouseRecorded vote: 347 yea, 37 nay347–37
SenateVoice vote

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.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

(Measure passed House, amended, roll call #439 (347-37))

Ethics in Government Act Amendments of 1982 - Amends the special prosecutor provisions of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.

Changes the name of the special prosecutor to "independent counsel."

Amends the coverage of officials who may be subject to the special prosecutor provisions. Limits coverage of persons in the Executive Office of the President to Level II or above (currently, Level IV or above).

Defines which national campaign officers are subject to the Act. Includes the chairman and treasurer of the national campaign committee and officers exercising authority at the national level.

Makes executive officials subject to the Act during the incumbency of the President under whom they serve, plus one year, but in no event longer than two years (currently, such officials remain subject to the Act under a successive President of the same political party.)

Revises the current standards for determining whether a preliminary investigation is required and for appointing a special prosecutor.

Requires the Attorney General to conduct a preliminary investigation upon receiving information "sufficient to constitute grounds to investigate." Requires consideration of the credibility of the source of the information. (Currently, a preliminary investigation is triggered by receipt of "specific information" without consideration of the source's credibility.) Provides a procedure for the Attorney General to investigate a person under this Act not specifically covered.

Requires appointment of a special prosecutor if there are "reasonable grounds to believe" that further prosecution is warranted. (Currently, a prosecutor must be appointed unless the matter is "so unsubstantiated" that no further prosecution is warranted.)

Requires the Attorney General to comply with written or other established policies of the Department of Justice in determining whether appointment of a special prosecutor is warranted.

Permits a court to award attorney's fees to subjects of a special prosecutor investigation if no indictment results and the expenses would not otherwise have been incurred.

Changes the standard for removal of a special prosecutor from "extraordinary impropriety" to "good cause."

Extends the expiration of the special prosecutor provisions from October 26, 1983, to five years after enactment of these amendments.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 97th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 347 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

347 yea38 nay48 present or did not vote

Dimension 2

Economic left–right

More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(209)

Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5
Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
Rep. Mickey LelandD-TX-18
Rep. Mervyn DymallyD-CA-31
Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19
Rep. William GrayD-PA-2
Rep. John BurtonD-CA-5
Rep. Theodore WeissD-NY-20
Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
Rep. Robert GarciaD-NY-21
Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
Rep. William FordD-MI-15
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9
Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-28
Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-4
Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
Rep. Katie HallD-IN-1
Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
Rep. James ShannonD-MA-5
Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2
Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-3
Rep. William CoyneD-PA-14
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4
Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
Rep. John WilliamsD-MT-1
Rep. Michael LowryD-WA-7
Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
Rep. Chuck SchumerD-NY-16
Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-4
Rep. Bernard DwyerD-NJ-15
Rep. Brian DonnellyD-MA-11
Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3
Rep. Raymond KogovsekD-CO-3
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Geraldine FerraroD-NY-9
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
Rep. Donald BaileyD-PA-21
Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
Rep. Anthony CoelhoD-CA-15
Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
Rep. Barbara KennellyD-CT-1
Rep. Frank GuariniD-NJ-14
Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
Rep. Howard WolpeD-MI-3
Rep. James MattoxD-TX-5
Rep. Dennis HertelD-MI-14
Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
Rep. Ron WydenD-OR-3
Rep. Peter PeyserD-NY-23
Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
Rep. William RatchfordD-CT-5
Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-11
Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
Rep. Leo ZeferettiD-NY-15
Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
Rep. Allan SwiftD-WA-2
Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
Rep. Dennis EckartD-OH-22
Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
Rep. Charles DowdyD-MS-4
Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
Rep. Sam GejdensonD-CT-2
Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
Rep. Robert ShamanskyD-OH-12
Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
Rep. Michael SynarD-OK-2
Rep. Cecil HeftelD-HI-1
Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
Rep. Byron DorganD-ND
Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
Rep. Tom DaschleD-SD-1
Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
Rep. Michael BarnesD-MD-8
Rep. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
Rep. Wes WatkinsD-OK-3
Rep. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
Rep. Robert YoungD-MO-2
Rep. William BonerD-TN-5
Rep. Beryl AnthonyD-AR-4
Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
Rep. Royden DysonD-MD-1
Rep. Daniel MicaD-FL-11
Rep. Thomas LukenD-OH-2
Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
Rep. Don FuquaD-FL-2
Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
Rep. Charles WhitleyD-NC-3
Rep. Bill NelsonD-FL-9
Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
Rep. William PatmanD-TX-14
Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
Rep. Douglas ApplegateD-OH-18
Rep. Earl HuttoD-FL-1
Rep. David McCurdyD-OK-4
Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
Rep. Billy EvansD-GA-8
Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
Rep. Druie BarnardD-GA-10
Rep. Kent HanceD-TX-19
Rep. Beverly ByronD-MD-6
Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
Rep. Ronald MottlD-OH-23
Rep. James SantiniD-NV
Rep. Thomas HuckabyD-LA-5
Rep. Ralph HallD-TX-4
Rep. Sam HallD-TX-1
Rep. Billy TauzinD-LA-3
Rep. Richard ShelbyD-AL-7
Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
Rep. James LeathD-TX-11
Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
Rep. Buddy RoemerD-LA-4
Rep. Phil GrammD-TX-6
Rep. Robert StumpD-AZ-3

Republicans who voted yea(137)

Rep. Harold HollenbeckR-NJ-9
Rep. Claudine SchneiderR-RI-2
Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
Rep. Lawrence DeNardisR-CT-3
Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
Rep. Marc MarksR-PA-24
Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
Rep. Robert DavisR-MI-11
Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
Rep. Lyle WilliamsR-OH-19
Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
Rep. Olympia SnoweR-ME-2
Rep. Huey DeckardR-IN-8
Rep. James NelliganR-PA-11
Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. William ClingerR-PA-23
Rep. Arlen ErdahlR-MN-1
Rep. Harold SawyerR-MI-5
Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
Rep. Guy MolinariR-NY-17
Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-12
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
Rep. John NapierR-SC-6
Rep. Marge RoukemaR-NJ-7
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
Rep. Thomas TaukeR-IA-2
Rep. James DunnR-MI-6
Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
Rep. Stanford ParrisR-VA-8
Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
Rep. David MarriottR-UT-2
Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5
Rep. Sidney MorrisonR-WA-4
Rep. James CourterR-NJ-13
Rep. Raymond McGrathR-NY-5
Rep. James CoyneR-PA-8
Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
Rep. Paul TribleR-VA-1
Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
Rep. Lynn MartinR-IL-16
Rep. Bobbi FiedlerR-CA-21
Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
Rep. Larry HopkinsR-KY-6
Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
Rep. Edward WeberR-OH-9
Rep. George WortleyR-NY-32
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6
Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
Rep. Charles PashayanR-CA-17
Rep. David MartinR-NY-30
Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
Rep. Toby RothR-WI-8
Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
Rep. Edwin BethuneR-AR-2
Rep. Steven GundersonR-WI-3
Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
Rep. Thomas EvansR-IA-3
Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
Rep. Carroll CampbellR-SC-4
Rep. Joseph SkeenR-NM-2
Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-1
Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
Rep. Bob McEwenR-OH-6
Rep. Ronald MarleneeR-MT-2
Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
Rep. Arlan StangelandR-MN-7
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-12
Rep. Hal DaubR-NE-2
Rep. Robert WhittakerR-KS-5
Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
Rep. William LoweryR-CA-41
Rep. Thomas CorcoranR-IL-15
Rep. Donald RitterR-PA-15
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-42
Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
Rep. Gregory CarmanR-NY-3
Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
Rep. Bill McCollumR-FL-5
Rep. Gary LeeR-NY-33
Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
Rep. John LeBoutillierR-NY-6
Rep. Pat RobertsR-KS-1
Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
Rep. Kenneth KramerR-CO-5
Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
Rep. Eldon RuddR-AZ-4
Rep. William HendonR-NC-11
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-37
Rep. Daniel CoatsR-IN-4
Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
Rep. Thomas LoefflerR-TX-21
Rep. Mark SiljanderR-MI-4
Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
Rep. Mickey EdwardsR-OK-5
Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
Rep. Robert DornanR-CA-27
Rep. Judd GreggR-NH-2
Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
Rep. Wayne GrishamR-CA-33
Rep. John WeberR-MN-6
Rep. John HilerR-IN-3
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9
Rep. Albert SmithR-AL-6
Rep. James HansenR-UT-1
Rep. Bill EmersonR-MO-10
Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
Rep. Gerald SolomonR-NY-29
Rep. Jack FieldsR-TX-8
Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
Rep. William DannemeyerR-CA-39

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 767 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. 1 yea vote was cast by members of neither major party and is highlighted on the compass but not listed. 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.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Judiciary Committee · House · discharged from, referred toSubcommittee: Administrative Law and Governmental Relations Subcommittee
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee · Senate · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Oversight of Government Management Subcommittee

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.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 18 actions.

Jan 3, 1983Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 97-409.
Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
Dec 22, 1982PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
Dec 17, 1982Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendments by Voice Vote.
Dec 13, 1982FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Yea-Nay Vote: 347 - 37 (Record Vote No: 439).House roll call 439
CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Judiciary Committee
Dec 8, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Administrative Law and Governmental Relations Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Administrative Law and Governmental Relations Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
Sep 28, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Administrative Law and Governmental Relations Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
Aug 18, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Administrative Law and Governmental Relations Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
Aug 16, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
Aug 12, 1982FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
Jul 14, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Jun 17, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Apr 28, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Oversight of Government Management Subcommittee of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Mar 19, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Oversight of Government Management Subcommittee of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Feb 3, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental 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.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.