§1808 — Title 2 The Congress | U.S. Code

Summary

Creates an independent Office of Inspector General inside the Office of the Architect of the Capitol. The office must run and oversee audits and investigations, lead and recommend ways to save money and improve operations, and keep the Architect of the Capitol and Congress fully informed about problems. The Inspector General is chosen by the Architect of the Capitol after talking with the Inspectors General of the Library of Congress, Government Publishing Office, Government Accountability Office, and U.S. Capitol Police. The choice must be based on integrity and skill in areas like accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, or investigations, and not on politics. The Inspector General reports to the Architect but the Architect cannot block audits, subpoenas, reports, or other duties. The Architect may remove or transfer the Inspector General, but must give written reasons to four Congressional committees 30 days before doing so. Pay is set at $1,500 less than the Architect’s pay, and the Inspector General cannot get cash awards. The Inspector General must have a counsel who reports directly to the Inspector General. The Inspector General follows certain Federal personnel laws and can hire needed staff and consultants under security rules. Designated investigators may arrest, seek warrants, and carry firearms while on duty if certified as U.S. citizens, trained, and legally allowed to have a gun (including no disqualifying misdemeanor domestic violence conviction). The Inspector General must keep firearms and use-of-force training and rules that match Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency/Department of Justice standards unless more is needed, may add requirements, and can revoke or restore an individual’s law-enforcement authority. Before the first grant of such authority and every six months, the Inspector General must certify to the appropriate Congressional committees that safeguards exist. The office must take part in external reviews by other Inspectors General. The Architect must include the Inspector General’s budget request without change. All prior Inspector General functions, staff, and funds move into this office. The Architect had to appoint an Inspector General within 180 days after December 26, 2007; most of these rules took effect 180 days after December 26, 2007 for fiscal year 2008 and later, while the appointment timing rule took effect on December 26, 2007.

Title 2, §1808

The Congress — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)This section may be cited as the “Architect of the Capitol Inspector General Act of 2007”.

(b)There is an Office of Inspector General within the Office of the Architect of the Capitol which is an independent objective office to—

(1)conduct and supervise audits and investigations relating to the Architect of the Capitol;

(2)provide leadership and coordination and recommend policies to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness; and

(3)provide a means of keeping the Architect of the Capitol and the Congress fully and currently informed about problems and deficiencies relating to the administration of programs and operations of the Architect of the Capitol.

(c)(1)(A)There shall be at the head of the Office of Inspector General, an Inspector General who shall be appointed by the Architect of the Capitol, in consultation with the Inspectors General of the Library of Congress, Government Publishing Office, Government Accountability Office, and United States Capitol Police. The appointment shall be made without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, or investigations. The Inspector General shall report to, and be under the general supervision of, the Architect of the Capitol.

(B)The Architect of the Capitol shall have no authority to prevent or prohibit the Inspector General from—

(i)initiating, carrying out, or completing any audit or investigation;

(ii)issuing any subpoena during the course of any audit or investigation;

(iii)issuing any report; or

(iv)carrying out any other duty or responsibility of the Inspector General under this section.

(2)(A)The Inspector General may be removed from office, or transferred to another position within, or another location of, the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, by the Architect of the Capitol.

(B)Not later than 30 days before the Architect of the Capitol removes or transfers the Inspector General under subparagraph (A), the Architect of the Capitol shall communicate in writing the reason for the removal or transfer to—

(i)the Committee on House Administration and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and

(ii)the Committee on Rules and Administration and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.

(C)Nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit a personnel action (except for removal or transfer) that is otherwise authorized by law.

(3)The Inspector General shall be paid at an annual rate of pay equal to $1,500 less than the annual rate of pay of the Architect of the Capitol.

(4)The Inspector General may not receive any cash award or cash bonus, including a cash award under chapter 45 of title 5.

(5)The Inspector General shall, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations governing selections, appointments, and employment at the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, obtain legal advice from a counsel reporting directly to the Inspector General or another Inspector General.

(d)(1)section 404, 405 (other than subsections (b)(13) and (f)(1)(B) thereof), 406 (other than subsection (a)(7) and (8) thereof), and 407 of title 5 shall apply to the Inspector General of the Architect of the Capitol and the Office of such Inspector General and such sections shall be applied to the Office of the Architect of the Capitol and the Architect of the Capitol by substituting—

(A)“Office of the Architect of the Capitol” for “establishment”; and

(B)“Architect of the Capitol” for “head of the establishment”.

(2)(A)The Inspector General, in carrying out this section, is authorized, without the supervision or approval of any other employee, office, or other entity within the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, to select, appoint, and employ such officers and employees (including consultants) as may be necessary for carrying out the functions, powers, and duties of the Office of Inspector General subject to the provisions of law governing selections, appointments, and employment in the Office of the Architect of the Capitol.

(B)Appointments under the authority under subparagraph (A) shall be made consistent with personnel security and suitability requirements.

(C)Any appointment of a consultant under the authority under subparagraph (A) shall be made consistent with section 6(a)(8) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.).11 See References in Text note below.

(3)(A)Subject to subparagraph (B), any supervisory special agent under the Inspector General and any special agent supervised by such a supervisory special agent is authorized to—

(i)make an arrest without a warrant while engaged in official duties as authorized under this section or any other statute for any offense against the United States committed in the presence of such supervisory special agent or special agent, or for any felony cognizable under the laws of the United States if such supervisory special agent or special agent has reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing such felony;

(ii)seek and execute warrants for arrest, search of a premises, or seizure of evidence issued under the authority of the United States upon probable cause to believe that a violation has been committed; and

(iii)carry a firearm while engaged in official duties as authorized under this section or any other statute.

(B)(i)(I)In order to exercise the authority under subparagraph (A), a supervisory special agent or a special agent supervised by such a supervisory special agent shall certify that he or she—

(aa)is a citizen of the United States;

(bb)has successfully completed a basic law enforcement training program or military or other equivalent; and

(cc)is not prohibited from receiving a firearm under Federal law, including under section 922(g)(9) of title 18, because of a conviction of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

(II)After providing notice to the appropriate committees of Congress, the Inspector General may add requirements to the certification required under subclause (I), as determined appropriate by the Inspector General.

(ii)The Inspector General shall maintain firearms-related requirements (including quarterly firearms qualifications) and use of force training requirements that, except to the extent the Inspector General determines necessary to effectively carry out the duties of the Office of the Inspector General, are in accordance with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency use of force policies, which incorporate Department of Justice guidelines.

(iii)(I)The Inspector General shall—

(aa)determine whether an individual meets the requirements under this paragraph; and

(bb)revoke any authority granted to an individual under subparagraph (A) if the individual is not in compliance with the requirements of this paragraph.

(II)The Inspector General may reauthorize an individual to exercise the authority granted under subparagraph (A) if the Inspector General determines the individual has achieved compliance with the requirements under this paragraph.

(III)A revocation of the authority granted under subparagraph (A) shall not be subject to administrative, judicial, or other review, unless the revocation results in an adverse action. Such an adverse action may, at the election of the applicable individual, be reviewed in accordance with the otherwise applicable procedures.

(C)(i)Before the first grant of authority under subparagraph (A), and semiannually thereafter as part of the report under section 5 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.),1 the Inspector General shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a written certification that adequate internal safeguards and management procedures exist that, except to the extent the Inspector General determines necessary to effectively carry out the duties of the Office of the Inspector General, are in compliance with standards established by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, which incorporate Department of Justice guidelines, to ensure proper exercise of the powers authorized under this paragraph.

(ii)The authority granted under this paragraph (including any grant of authority to an individual under subparagraph (A), without regard to whether the individual is in compliance with subparagraph (B)) may be suspended by the Inspector General if the Office of Inspector General fails to comply with the reporting and review requirements under clause (i) of this subparagraph or subparagraph (D). Any suspension of authority under this clause shall be reported to the appropriate committees of Congress.

(D)To ensure the proper exercise of the law enforcement powers authorized under this paragraph, the Office of Inspector General shall submit to and participate in the external review process established by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency for ensuring that adequate internal safeguards and management procedures continue to exist. Under the review process, the exercise of the law enforcement powers by the Office of Inspector General shall be reviewed periodically by another Office of Inspector General or by a committee of Inspectors General. The results of each review shall be communicated in writing to the Inspector General, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, and the appropriate committees of Congress.

(E)Any allegation of misconduct by an individual granted authority under subparagraph (A) may be reviewed by the Integrity Committee of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency.

(F)In this paragraph, the term “appropriate committees of Congress” means—

(i)the Committee on Rules and Administration and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and

(ii)the Committee on House Administration and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

(4)The Architect of the Capitol shall include the annual budget request of the Inspector General in the budget of the Office of the Architect of the Capitol without change.

(e)All functions, personnel, and budget resources of the Office of the Inspector General of the Architect of the Capitol as in effect before the effective date of this section are transferred to the Office of Inspector General described under subsection (b).

(f)References in any other Federal law, Executive order, rule, regulation, or delegation of authority, or any document of or relating to the Inspector General of the Architect of the Capitol shall be deemed to refer to the Inspector General as set forth under this section.

(g)By the date occurring 180 days after December 26, 2007, the Architect of the Capitol shall appoint an individual to the position of Inspector General of the Architect of the Capitol described under subparagraph (A) of subsection (c)(1) in accordance with that subparagraph.

(h)(1)Except as provided under paragraph (2), this section shall take effect 180 days after December 26, 2007, and apply with respect to fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year thereafter.

(2)Subsection (g) shall take effect on December 26, 2007, and the Architect of the Capitol shall take such actions as necessary after December 26, 2007, to carry out that subsection.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 5 and 6(a)(8) of the Inspector General Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. (d)(2)(C), (3)(C)(i), are section 5 and 6(a)(8) of Pub. L. 95–452, which were set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and were repealed and restated as section 405 and 406(a)(8), respectively, of Title 5 by Pub. L. 117–286, §§ 3(b), 7, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4212, 4219, 4361. Codification Section is from the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2008, which is div. H of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008.

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted “section 404, 405 (other than subsections (b)(13) and (f)(1)(B) thereof), 406 (other than subsection (a)(7) and (8) thereof), and 407 of title 5” for “section 4, 5 (other than subsections (a)(13) and (e)(1)(B) thereof), 6 (other than subsection (a)(7) and (8) thereof), and 7 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.)” in introductory provisions. 2019—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–94, § 1602(b)(1), inserted “; pay; limits on bonuses; counsel” after “removal” in heading. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 116–94, § 1602(b)(2), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Inspector General may be removed from office by the Architect of the Capitol. The Architect of the Capitol shall, promptly upon such removal, communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal to each House of Congress.” Subsec. (c)(4), (5). Pub. L. 116–94, § 1602(b)(3), added pars. (4) and (5). Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 116–94, § 1605(b), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), inserted subpar. heading and “, without the supervision or approval of any other employee, office, or other entity within the Office of the Architect of the Capitol,” after “is authorized”, and added subpars. (B) and (C). Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 116–94, § 1603(b), added par. (3). Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 116–94, § 1604(b), added par. (4).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“Government Publishing Office” substituted for “Government Printing Office” in subsec. (c)(1)(A) on authority of section 1301(b) of Pub. L. 113–235, set out as a note preceding section 301 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents.

§1808 Inspector General of the Architect of the Capitol