Pure Congress Act of 1996

Referred to the House Committee on House Oversight.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jul 12, 1996

Pure Congress Act of 1996 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to ban political action committees from making, soliciting, or receiving contributions or making expenditures in Federal elections. Makes it unlawful, when the ban is not in affect, for a political action committee to make contributions to any candidate or any political committee for any election aggregating in excess of the contribution limitations applicable to individuals under such Act. Provides for Supreme Court review of constitutional issues.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Wamp, Zach [R-TN-3] · R–TN

Committees

Committee on House Administration

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jul 12, 1996
Referred to the House Committee on House Oversight.
Jul 12, 1996
Introduced in House
Jul 12, 1996
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jul 12, 1996 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.3800 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.3800, 104th Congress: Pure Congress Act of 1996

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/3800

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1996-07-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr3800/BILLS-104hr3800ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T20:14:26Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.3800 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.3800 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3800, 104th Congress: Pure Congress Act of 1996

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/3800

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1996-07-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr3800/BILLS-104hr3800ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T20:14:26Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3800 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.3800 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3800, 104th Congress: Pure Congress Act of 1996

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/3800

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1996-07-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr3800/BILLS-104hr3800ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T20:14:26Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3800 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.3800 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3800, 104th Congress: Pure Congress Act of 1996

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/3800

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1996-07-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr3800/BILLS-104hr3800ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T20:14:26Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3800 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.