A concurrent resolution to establish a procedure for the appointment of independent Congressional Ethics Office to investigate ethics violations in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1551-1552)

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 28, 2006

Establishes in the legislative branch the Congressional Ethics Office, headed by a Congressional Ethics Officer, which shall: (1) make informal preliminary inquiries in response to requests for reviews of allegations of improper conduct or a violation of law or House or Senate regulations; (2) report to the Members of Congress and the Department of Justice any finding of probable cause that a violation of ethics rules has occurred; (3) if warranted, conduct full investigations of such allegations; (4) report on investigations to the Senate Select Committee on Ethics or the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct; and (5) report to Congress on ethics complaints, ethics investigations, and recommendations for changes to ethics regulations.

Requires a request for review to be accompanied by a sworn statement of facts. Authorizes the Officer to refer false statements to the Attorney General for prosecution. Sets penalties for knowingly filing or encouraging another to file a false complaint. Bans filings close to an election.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA] · D–MA

Committees

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

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.

Feb 28, 2006
Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1551-1552)
Feb 28, 2006
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1552)
Feb 28, 2006
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in Senate · Feb 28, 2006 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

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: Jan 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.Con.Res.82 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.Con.Res.82, 109th Congress: A concurrent resolution to establish a procedure for the appointment of independent Congressional Ethics Office to investigate ethics violations in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-concurrent-resolution/82

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2006-02-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/sconres82/BILLS-109sconres82is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:04:53Z. 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 S.Con.Res.82 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 S.Con.Res.82 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 S.Con.Res.82, 109th Congress: A concurrent resolution to establish a procedure for the appointment of independent Congressional Ethics Office to investigate ethics violations in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-concurrent-resolution/82

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2006-02-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/sconres82/BILLS-109sconres82is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:04:53Z. 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 S.Con.Res.82 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 S.Con.Res.82 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 S.Con.Res.82, 109th Congress: A concurrent resolution to establish a procedure for the appointment of independent Congressional Ethics Office to investigate ethics violations in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-concurrent-resolution/82

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2006-02-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/sconres82/BILLS-109sconres82is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:04:53Z. 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 S.Con.Res.82 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 S.Con.Res.82 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 S.Con.Res.82, 109th Congress: A concurrent resolution to establish a procedure for the appointment of independent Congressional Ethics Office to investigate ethics violations in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-concurrent-resolution/82

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2006-02-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/sconres82/BILLS-109sconres82is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:04:53Z. 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 S.Con.Res.82 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.