Presidential Records Act of 1978


 * Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,


 * may be cited as the ``Presidential Records Act of 1978´´.

{{SECTION|SEC. 2.|SEC. 2}}. RECORDS MANAGEMENT, PRESERVATION, AND PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.
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``{{SECTION|SEC. 2201.|§ 2201}}. DEFINITIONS.

 * ``As used in this chapter—

``{{SECTION|SEC. 2202.|§ 2202}}. OWNERSHIP OF PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS.

 * ``The United States shall reserve and retain complete ownership, possession, and control of Presidential records; and such records shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

``{{SECTION|SEC. 2205.|§ 2205}}. EXCEPTIONS TO RESTRICTION ON ACCESS.

 * ``Notwithstanding any restrictions on access imposed pursuant to section 2204—

``{{SECTION|SEC. 2206.|§ 2206}}. REGULATIONS.

 * ``The Archivist shall promulgate in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code, regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. Such regulations shall include—

``{{SECTION|SEC. 2207.|§ 2207}}. VICE-PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS.

 * ``Vice-Presidential records shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter in the same manner as Presidential records. The duties and responsibilities of the Vice President, with respect to Vice-Presidential records, shall be the same as the duties and responsibilities of the President under this chapter with respect to Presidential records. The authority of the Archivist with respect to Vice-Presidential records shall be the same as the authority of the Archivist under this chapter with respect to Presidential records, except that the Archivist may, when the Archivist determines that it is in the public interest, enter into an agreement for the deposit of Vice-Presidential records in a non-Federal archival depository. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize the establishment of separate archival depositories for such Vice-Presidential records.´´.


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{{SECTION|SEC. 3.|SEC. 3}}. EFFECTIVE DATE.

 * The amendments made by this Act shall be effective with respect to any Presidential records (as defined in section 2201(2) of title 44, as amended by section 2 of this Act) created during a term of office of the President beginning on or after January 20, 1981.

{{SECTION|SEC. 4.|SEC. 4}}. SEPARABILITY.

 * If any provision of this Act is held invalid for any reason by any court, the validity and legal effect of the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby.

Approved November 4, 1978.

Legislative History

 * HOUSE REPORTS:
 * No. 95-1487, Pt. I (Comm. on Government Operations)
 * CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 124 (1978):
 * Oct. 10, considered and passed House.
 * Oct. 13, considered and passed Senate, amended.
 * Oct. 15, House concurred in Senate amendments.
 * WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 14, No. 45 (1978):
 * Nov. 6, Presidential statement.
 * Nov. 6, Presidential statement.

