HR-8363 : Still Just a Bill

Protecting Our Democracy Act

This bill addresses issues involving (1) abuses of presidential power; (2) checks and balances, accountability, and transparency; and (3) foreign interference in elections.

Specifically, regarding abuses of presidential power, the bill

  • requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the President to submit to Congress specified materials relating to certain pardons;
  • prohibits self-pardons by the President;
  • suspends the statute of limitations for any federal offense committed by a sitting President or Vice President;
  • prohibits the acceptance of foreign or domestic emoluments, authorizes civil actions by Congress concerning foreign emoluments, and requires the President to make certain disclosures; and
  • sets forth provisions regarding enforcement authority of the Office of Government Ethics and Office of Special Counsel jurisdiction.

To address checks and balances, accountability, and transparency, the bill, among other things

  • authorizes specified actions to enforce congressional subpoenas,
  • requires appropriations to be made available for obligation in a timely manner,
  • imposes limits on presidential declarations of emergencies,
  • requires DOJ to maintain a log of communications between it and the White House regarding certain investigations,
  • requires cause for removal of inspectors general,
  • increases whistleblower protections,
  • reauthorizes the Merit Systems Protection Board, and
  • establishes penalties for political appointees who engage in prohibited political activities.

To protect against foreign interference in elections, the bill

  • requires federal campaign reporting of foreign contacts,
  • requires federal campaigns to establish a foreign contacts compliance policy, and
  • specifies that foreign donations to political campaigns and candidates of nonpublic information relating to a candidate are prohibited.

Action Timeline

Action DateTypeTextSource
2020-09-23IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, Intelligence (Permanent Select), and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-09-23IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, Intelligence (Permanent Select), and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-09-23IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, Intelligence (Permanent Select), and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-09-23IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, Intelligence (Permanent Select), and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-09-23IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, Intelligence (Permanent Select), and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-09-23IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, Intelligence (Permanent Select), and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-09-23IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, Intelligence (Permanent Select), and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-09-23IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, Intelligence (Permanent Select), and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-09-23IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, Intelligence (Permanent Select), and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-09-23CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.House committee actions
2020-09-23IntroReferralIntroduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Sponsor :

Rep. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA-28]
See Cosponsors

Policy Area :

Government Operations and Politics
See Subjects
  • Administrative law and regulatory procedures
  • Appropriations
  • Budget process
  • Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
  • Civil actions and liability
  • Congressional elections
  • Congressional oversight
  • Congressional-executive branch relations
  • Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
  • Criminal procedure and sentencing
  • Defense spending
  • Department of Defense
  • Department of Justice
  • Director of National Intelligence
  • Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
  • Employment discrimination and employee rights
  • Evidence and witnesses
  • Executive agency funding and structure
  • Federal officials
  • Fraud offenses and financial crimes
  • Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
  • Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
  • Government information and archives
  • Government studies and investigations
  • Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
  • Judges
  • Judicial procedure and administration
  • Labor standards
  • Lawyers and legal services
  • Legal fees and court costs
  • Legislative rules and procedure
  • Merit Systems Protection Board
  • Military operations and strategy
  • National Security Agency
  • Office of Government Ethics
  • Political advertising
  • Political parties and affiliation
  • Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
  • Public participation and lobbying
  • Research administration and funding
  • Right of privacy
  • Subversive activities
  • Supreme Court
  • Tariffs
  • War and emergency powers

Related Bills

See Related Bills