# 117-hr-6327: Constitutional Accountability Act

117-hr-6327, Constitutional Accountability Act, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] (D-RI); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-6327
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-hr-6327
- Congress: 117
- Title: Constitutional Accountability Act
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
- Introduced: 2021-12-20
- Sponsor: Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] (D-RI)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Constitutional Accountability Act This bill extends civil liability to federal, state, and local government entities and officials for constitutional violations committed by law enforcement officers. Current law provides a statutory civil cause of action against state and local government actors (e.g., law enforcement) for violations of constitutional rights (also known as Section 1983 lawsuits); the Supreme Court has also found an implied cause of action against federal law enforcement officers in certain situations (e.g., Fourth Amendment violations). However, under the judicial doctrine of qualified immunity, government officials performing discretionary duties are generally shielded from civil liability except when their actions violate clearly established rights of which a reasonable person would have known. Additionally, under the doctrine of sovereign immunity, federal and state government entities generally cannot be sued without their consent. Further, the Supreme Court has held that a local government entity cannot be sued for an injury inflicted by its employees. The bill provides a statutory civil cause of action against and extends liability to federal, state, and local government entities and officials for violations of constitutional rights committed by law enforcement officers in their employment, regardless of any immunity that would otherwise apply.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2021-12-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] (D-MD), 2021-12-20T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 117-hr-2471: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022
- 117-hr-3537: Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act
- 117-hr-263: Big Cat Public Safety Act
- 117-hr-1799: PPP Extension Act of 2021
- 117-hr-310: To posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, in recognition of thei…
- 117-hr-8404: Respect for Marriage Act

## Sources
- [117-hr-6327 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6327)

## Related
- [117-hr-2471: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-2471)
- [117-hr-3537: Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-3537)
- [117-hr-263: Big Cat Public Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-263)
- [117-hr-1799: PPP Extension Act of 2021](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1799)
- [117-hr-310: To posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to Glen Doher…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-310)
- [117-hr-8404: Respect for Marriage Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-8404)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-6327 (as of 2025-11-18).