Related Links

• 10/22/08 Enforcement of Congressional Rules of Conduct: An Historical Overview
  The Constitution vests Congress with broad authority to discipline its Members. However, only in the past 40 years have both houses established formal rules of conduct and formal disciplinary procedures whereby allegations of illegal or unethical conduct may be investigated and punishment may be given. This report describes the evolution of congressional enforcement of congressional rules of conduct and summarizes the disciplinary action taken by the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. It also discusses the recommendations of the House Special Task Force on Ethics Enforcement and related proposals as well as selected other recent changes.
• 10/22/08 Recall of Legislators and the Removal of Members of Congress from Office
  This report provides a brief overview and summary of the federal laws, ethical rules, and regulations which may be relevant to the activities of those who lobby the United States Congress. The report provides a summary discussion of the federal lobbying registration and disclosure requirements of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, as amended by the "Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007," P.L. 110-81 (S. 1, 110th Congress); the Foreign Agents Registration Act; the issue of the propriety of contingency fees for lobbying; restrictions on lobbying with federal funds; post-employment ("revolving door") lobbying activities by former federal officials; and House and Senate ethics rules relevant to contacts with private lobbyists.
• 10/22/08 Senate Select Committee on Ethics: A Brief History of Its Evolution and Jurisdiction
  This report provides a brief history of the creation, evolution, activities, and membership of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. First established in 1964 as the Select Committee on Standards and Conduct, it was renamed the Select Committee on Ethics in 1977 when its jurisdiction and procedures were expanded to help implement revisions to the Senate Code of Official Conduct.
• 10/18/08 Lobbying Law and Ethics Rules Changes in the 110th Congress
  Significant changes were made by Congress to the current lobbying laws, and to internal House and Senate rules on ethics and procedures, by the passage of S. 1, 110th Congress (P.L. 110-81, 121 Stat. 735, September 14, 2007) and the adoption of H.Res. 6, 110th Congress. In the face of mounting public and congressional concern over allegations and convictions of certain lobbyists and public officials in a burgeoning "lobbying and gift" scandal, and with a recognition of legitimate concerns over undue influence and access of certain special interests to public officials, Congress has adopted stricter rules, regulations, and laws attempting to address these issues.