The jurisdiction of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct is derived from authority granted under House Rules and federal statutes. The scope of the Committee’s jurisdiction under the various authorizing rules and statutes is given below.
House Rule X, cl. 1(p)(1)
B) Investigate alleged violations of the Code of Official Conduct or of any applicable rules, laws, or regulations governing the performance of official duties or the discharge of official responsibilities. Such investigations must be made in accordance with Committee rules.
C) Report to appropriate federal or State authorities substantial evidence of a violation of any law applicable to the performance of official duties that may have been disclosed in a Committee investigation. Such reports must be approved by the House or by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Committee.
D) Render advisory opinions regarding the propriety of any current or proposed conduct of a Member, officer, or employee, and issue general guidance on such matters as necessary.
E) Consider requests for written waivers of the gift rule (clause 5
of House Rule XXVI)
House Rule XXVI, clause 5(f)
All provisions of the gift rule are to be interpreted and enforced solely by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. The Committee is authorized to issue guidance on any matter contained in the rule.
The statute also charges the Committee with duties and responsibilities with regard to (1) the Financial Disclosure Statements of candidates for the House, and (2) the Financial Disclosure Statements and Outside Employment of officers and employees of certain legislative branch agencies, including the Library of Congress, the Congressional Budget Office, the Government Printing Office, the Architect of the Capitol, and the United States Botanic Garden. However, the Committee has delegated much of its authority with regard to the officers and employees of those agencies to the heads of those agencies.
Committee authority with regard to the employees of certain legislative branch agencies has been delegated to the heads of those agencies (see the section on the Ethics in Government Act above).
Committee authority with regard to the employees of certain legislative branch agencies has been delegated to the heads of those agencies (see the section on the Ethics in Government Act above).