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S 633 98th Congress Senate

A bill entitled the "Government Accountability Act of 1983."

Introduced: March 1, 1983 Introduced by: Grassley, Chuck Republican · Iowa See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Administrative responsibilityBusiness and commerceCivil Rights and LibertiesCivil actions and liability
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Civil service employmentConstitutional lawCourts and Civil ProcedureCrime and Law EnforcementCriminal procedure and sentencingDamagesDistrict courtsElectronic surveillanceFederal employeesFederal employees and officialsGovernment liabilityInsuranceLiability (Law)Liability insuranceMalpractice
This bill died when the 98th Congress ended
It never became law before the 98th Congress (1983–1984) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 1, 1983
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Mar 1, 1983
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action March 1, 1983

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) to include Federal liability for the constitutional torts of Federal employees acting within the scope of employment. Limits money damages for such torts to specified amounts.

Makes the remedy provided by the FTCA exclusive of any other civil action arising out of the same subject matter. Substitutes such remedy for any recovery against the Federal employee's individual capacity.

Requires that the United States be substituted as party defendant upon certification by the Attorney General that the defendant employee was acting within the scope of employment. Makes such certification binding and conclusive.

Declares that upon removal of a civil action from a State court to a U.S. district court, the United States is entitled to all defenses to which it would have been entitled had the action been originally commenced under this Act.

Directs the Attorney General, where an action results in a judgment against the United States, to forward the matter to the employing agency for further investigation or disciplinary action.

Eliminates as exceptions to the FTCA the following torts: assault, battery, false imprisonment, false arrest, malicious prosecution and abuse of process.

Exempts specified agencies from tort claims arising under the Constitution.

Authorizes specified agencies to provide liability insurance for employees performing medical functions under employment conditions where the United States would not be liable for employee's actions.

Exempts U.S. employees acting within the scope of employment from civil liability for: (1) unlawfully intercepting or disclosing wire or oral communications; and (2) conducting electronic surveillance or disclosing information obtained by electronic surveillance.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 633: A bill entitled the "Government Accountability Act of 1983.". 98th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/98-S-633/
MLA
"S. 633: A bill entitled the "Government Accountability Act of 1983."." 98th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/98-S-633/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 633, 98th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/98-S-633/.
Markdown link
[S. 633: A bill entitled the "Government Accountability Act of 1983."](https://openamerica.io/bill/98-S-633/)
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