Protecting Our Democracy Act
Sen. Schiff Introduces the Protecting Our Democracy Act to Limit Presidential Power and Stop Foreign Meddling
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process after being sent to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs for review. It is actively moving forward, but no future hearings or votes have been scheduled yet. There is no companion bill mentioned for this legislation.
Passage Likelihood
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- The bill bans presidential self-pardons and creates new oversight when a president pardons people connected to investigations involving the president or their associates. It also makes it a crime to offer or accept bribes in exchange for pardons.
From policy text
“The President's grant of a pardon to himself or herself is void and of no effect, and shall not deprive the courts of jurisdiction, or operate to confer on the President any legal immunity from investigation or prosecution.”
View in full text - Presidential and vice presidential candidates must release 10 years of tax returns to the Federal Election Commission, which would make them public. Sitting presidents and vice presidents must also file annually.
From policy text
“Not later than the date that is 15 days after the date on which an individual becomes a covered candidate, the individual shall submit to the Federal Election Commission a copy of the individual's income tax returns for the 10 most recent taxable years for which a return has been filed with the Internal Revenue Service.”
View in full text - Congress gains stronger tools to enforce subpoenas, including the ability to go to court to compel compliance. It also strengthens the Impoundment Control Act so the president cannot refuse to spend money that Congress has approved.
From policy text
“The Senate, the House of Representatives, or a committee or subcommittee thereof, may bring a civil action against the recipient of a subpoena issued by a congressional committee or subcommittee to enforce compliance with the subpoena.”
View in full text - Whistleblower protections are expanded so that federal workers who report wrongdoing can take their cases to federal court if the Merit Systems Protection Board does not act within 180 days. Protections are also extended to intelligence community whistleblowers.
- Political campaigns must report contacts with foreign nationals to the FBI within one week, and online platforms with 50 million or more monthly users must keep public records of political ads they sell, including who paid and who the ad targeted.
From policy text
“Not later than 1 week after a reportable foreign contact, each political committee shall notify the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Commission of the reportable foreign contact and provide a summary of the circumstances with respect to such reportable foreign contact.”
View in full text - The bill creates a new Inspector General for the Executive Office of the President, strengthens Hatch Act penalties for political appointees who use their office for partisan activity, and bars convicted corporate criminals from serving in the executive branch.
From policy text
“Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall appoint an individual as the Inspector General of the Executive Office of the President in accordance with the requirements of section 403(a) of title 5, United States Code.”
View in full text
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Related News
2 articlesA left-wing Trump isn't the answer. This is.
This analysis argues for the passage of the Protecting Our Democracy Act, noting that its proposals for national emergency and pardon reforms are 'very much relevant' given current executive actions. It notes the bill previously died in the Senate due to a GOP filibuster.
Rep. Jason Crow on airport disruptions, gerrymandering, and ICE arrests
In an interview, Rep. Jason Crow discusses his support for the Protecting Our Democracy Act, emphasizing its role in ending gerrymandering and providing a federal prohibition on the 'abuse and assault on our democracy' by the current administration.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Protecting Our Democracy Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(9)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.