§6161 — Title 2 The Congress | U.S. Code

Summary

Allows the Secretary of the Senate Democratic conference to give a member of the conference leadership certain powers by sending a letter to the Senate Disbursing Office. The powers last for the covered Congress. It defines four key terms: applicable conference (the Senate Democratic majority or minority conference), covered Congress (the 118th and any later Congress), covered period (starts when the Secretary sends the letter), and designated officer (the leader who gets the Secretary’s duties). The assigned powers include control of money for the Office of the Secretary and the Secretary’s duties under section 6154, section 6156, or other laws. For staff who work for the designated officer during the covered period, some legal references that normally point to the Office of the Secretary will be read as referring to the designated officer’s office (including several specific statute and resolution citations). This change does not stop or change any ongoing procedures or actions under the Congressional Accountability Act or section 207 of title 18, United States Code.

Title 2, §6161

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(a)In this section—

(1)the term “applicable conference” means the majority or minority conference of the Senate, as applicable, that represents the Democratic party;

(2)the term “covered Congress” means the 118th and any subsequent Congress;

(3)the term “covered period” means the period beginning on the date on which the Secretary of the applicable conference submits the letter described in subsection (b); and

(4)the term “designated officer of the applicable conference” means the member of the leadership of the applicable conference to whom the duties and authorities of the Secretary of the applicable conference are assigned under subsection (b).

(b)The Secretary of the applicable conference may, by submission of a letter to the Disbursing Office of the Senate, at the direction of the Chair of the applicable conference, assign to a member of the leadership of the applicable conference the following duties and authorities for the duration of the covered Congress:

(1)The authority over any amounts made available for the Office of the Secretary of the applicable conference.

(2)The duties and authorities of the Secretary of the applicable conference under section 6154 of this title, section 6156 of this title, or any other provision of law.

(c)For purposes of any individual employed by the office of the designated officer of the applicable conference during the covered period—

(1)any reference to the Office of the Secretary of the applicable conference in the last sentence of section 6314(e) of this title shall be deemed to refer to the office of the designated officer of the applicable conference;

(2)any reference to the Office of the Secretary of the applicable conference under subsection (b) of the first section of S. Res. 458 (98th Congress) shall be deemed to refer to the office of the designated officer of the applicable conference; and

(3)any reference to the Secretary of the applicable conference under section 207(e)(9)(M) of title 18 shall be deemed to refer to the designated officer of the applicable conference.

(d)For purposes of any individual employed by the office of the designated officer of the applicable conference during the covered period and with respect to any practice that occurs during the covered period, any reference to the Office of the Secretary of the applicable conference under section 220(e)(2)(C) of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1351(e)(2)(C)) shall be deemed to be a reference to the office of the designated officer of the applicable conference.

(e)Nothing in this section shall be construed to have any effect on the continuation of any procedure or action initiated under the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) or section 207 of title 18, United States Code.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, referred to in subsec. (e), is Pub. L. 104–1, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 3, which is classified principally to chapter 24 (§ 1301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note under section 1301 of this title and Tables. Codification Section was formerly set out as a note under section 6154 of this title.

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 119–37, § 102(1), inserted “and any subsequent” after “the 118th”. Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 119–37, § 102(2), struck out “and ending on

January 7, 2025” after “described in subsection (b)”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 119–37, § 102(3), struck out “on or after

January 3, 2023” after “Disbursing Office of the Senate” in introductory provisions. 2022—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 117–328, § 103(a)(2)(A), substituted “means the 118th Congress;” for “means the 117th Congress; and”. Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 117–328, § 103(a)(2)(B), substituted “and ending on

January 7, 2025; and” for “and ending on

January 3, 2023.” Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 117–328, § 103(a)(2)(C), added par. (4). Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 117–328, 103(a)(3), substituted “

January 3, 2023, at the direction of the Chair of the applicable conference, assign to a member of the leadership of the applicable conference” for “

January 3, 2021, assign to the Assistant Leader of the applicable conference” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117–328, 103(a)(1), substituted “office of the designated officer” for “Office of the Assistant Leader” wherever appearing. Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 117–328, 103(a)(4), substituted “designated officer” for “Assistant Leader”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117–328, 103(a)(1), substituted “office of the designated officer” for “Office of the Assistant Leader” in two places.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2022 Amendment Pub. L. 117–328, div. I, title I, § 103(b), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 4918, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on January 3, 2023.”

§6161 Senate Democratic Leadership Offices Funding and Authorities

Summary

Title 2, §6161

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Short Title

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Amendments

Citations & Metadata