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Write the Laws Act

USA119th CongressS-60| Senate 
| Updated: 1/9/2025
Rand Paul

Rand Paul

Republican Senator

Kentucky

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill, known as the "Write the Laws Act," seeks to restore the constitutional principle of separation of powers by ending the delegation of legislative authority from Congress to other government branches or entities. It asserts that all legislative powers are exclusively vested in the Senate and House of Representatives, as outlined in Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution. The legislation aims to prevent the creation of administrative agencies with blended legislative, executive, and judicial powers, which it argues undermines constitutional checks and balances and due process. The bill amends Title 1 of the U.S. Code to prohibit any Act of Congress from containing a delegation of legislative powers . This delegation is broadly defined to include the creation or clarification of criminal or civil offenses, or any non-criminal regulation not fully and completely defined by Congress. However, it explicitly excludes presidential proclamations, internal agency operating rules, and conditions on grants or contracts from this prohibition. Furthermore, the legislation mandates that any new Presidential directive, adjudicative decision, rule, or regulation affecting the public must be authorized by a compliant Act of Congress. Non-compliant laws or executive actions will be deemed to have no force or effect , and individuals aggrieved by such actions can bring a cause of action against the United States. The bill also directs the Comptroller General to submit a report to Congress identifying existing statutes that contain prohibited delegations of legislative power, with the goal of phasing them out.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-84
Write the Laws Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-329
Write the Laws Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-3904
Write the Laws Act
Jan 9, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Jan 9, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-84
    Write the Laws Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-329
    Write the Laws Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-3904
    Write the Laws Act


  • January 9, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 9, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Government Operations and Politics

Congressional-executive branch relationsCongressional oversightGovernment information and archivesLegislative rules and procedurePresidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Write the Laws Act

USA119th CongressS-60| Senate 
| Updated: 1/9/2025
This bill, known as the "Write the Laws Act," seeks to restore the constitutional principle of separation of powers by ending the delegation of legislative authority from Congress to other government branches or entities. It asserts that all legislative powers are exclusively vested in the Senate and House of Representatives, as outlined in Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution. The legislation aims to prevent the creation of administrative agencies with blended legislative, executive, and judicial powers, which it argues undermines constitutional checks and balances and due process. The bill amends Title 1 of the U.S. Code to prohibit any Act of Congress from containing a delegation of legislative powers . This delegation is broadly defined to include the creation or clarification of criminal or civil offenses, or any non-criminal regulation not fully and completely defined by Congress. However, it explicitly excludes presidential proclamations, internal agency operating rules, and conditions on grants or contracts from this prohibition. Furthermore, the legislation mandates that any new Presidential directive, adjudicative decision, rule, or regulation affecting the public must be authorized by a compliant Act of Congress. Non-compliant laws or executive actions will be deemed to have no force or effect , and individuals aggrieved by such actions can bring a cause of action against the United States. The bill also directs the Comptroller General to submit a report to Congress identifying existing statutes that contain prohibited delegations of legislative power, with the goal of phasing them out.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-84
Write the Laws Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-329
Write the Laws Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-3904
Write the Laws Act
Jan 9, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Jan 9, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-84
    Write the Laws Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-329
    Write the Laws Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-3904
    Write the Laws Act


  • January 9, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 9, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Rand Paul

Rand Paul

Republican Senator

Kentucky

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Government Operations and Politics

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional-executive branch relationsCongressional oversightGovernment information and archivesLegislative rules and procedurePresidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents