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H.R. 4768: Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2016

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H.R. 4768: Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2016

114th Congress · introduced 2016-03-16 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2016-03-16 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Ratcliffe, John [R-TX-4] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 6 recorded votes in our records. Latest: House roll call 411 (2016): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4768 (2016-07-12), Failed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2016

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on June 14, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2016 This bill modifies the scope of judicial review of agency actions to authorize courts reviewing agency actions to decide de novo (without giving deference to the agency's interpretation) all relevant questions of law, including the interpretation of: (1) constitutional and statutory provisions, and (2) rules made by agencies. No law may exempt such a civil action from the application of the amendments made by this bill except by specific reference to these provisions.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2016

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Ratcliffe, John [R-TX-4] · 113 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 4768, Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2016 (2016-06-15)

Cosponsors on this site

Brian Babin (R-TX), David Rouzer (R-NC), Gary J. Palmer (R-AL), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Cynthia M. Lummis (R-WY), Jason Smith (R-MO), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ), H. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Mark E. Amodei (R-NV), Trent Kelly (R-MS), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Rick W. Allen (R-GA) and 53 more.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (5)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Exemption
A rule that removes certain people, property or activities from a tax or requirement.
Rulemaking
The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
Statute
A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong114-hr4768 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114