Establishes in the legislative branch of the Government the Office of General Counsel. States that there shall be a Counsel General and a Deputy Counsel General, each of whom shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and confirmed by a majority vote of each House.
States that it shall be the duty of the Counsel General to (1) render to committees, Members, and disbursing officers of the Congress, the Comptroller General and other officers exclusively within the legislative branch, legal opinions upon questions arising under the Constitution and laws of the United States; (2) render to committees and Members advice with respect to the purpose and effect of provisions contained in Acts of the Congress, or to be inserted in proposed legislative measures; (3) perform such duties with respect to legislative review of executive actions as shall be prescribed by such rules; (4) appear as amicus curiae, upon the request, or with the approval, of the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate or the House of Representatives, in any action pending in any court of the United States in which there is placed in issue the constitutional validity or interpretation of any Act of the Congress or the validity of any official proceeding of or action taken by either House of Congress or by any committee, Member, officer, office, or agency of the Congress; and (5) represent, upon the request, or with the approval of the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate or the House of Representatives, either House of Congress or any committee, Member, officer, office, or agency of the Congress in any legal action pending in any court of the United States to which such House committee, Member, officer, office, or agency is a party and in which there is placed in issue the validity of any official proceeding of or action taken by such House, committee, Member, officer, office, or agency.
Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as may be required by the Office of the Counsel General for the performance of its duties under this Act.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to House Committee on House Administration.
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