[Why has there been no Charter for the FBI? Is there one now?]

Carter Administration Unveils Proposed F.B.I. Charter

Aug 1, 1979

WASHINGTON. July 31 — The Carter Administration today formally unveiled its proposed governing charter for the Federal Bureau’ of Investigation. The charter, which would be the first for the bureau, restricts but does not prohibit such controversial investigative techniques as the use of informers, under‐. cover agents and covert criminal activity.

President Carter, in a message sent to Congress with the legislation, said, “The public must be assured that the F.B.I. is acting properly under the law. This charter strikes the proper balance between assuring that the civil liberties guaranteed to Americans by our Constitution are protected and that the F.B.I. can fully pursue its appropriate functions.”

The charter specifies the powers and duties of the bureau, establishing precise standards and procedures for the conduct of investigations. It creates safeguards against harassment of citizens, break‐ins and other past abuses.

The safeguards take the form of governing principles for the bureau, guidelines for‐conduct to be laid down by the Attorney General, and specific restrictions on some investigative work. The charter also contains extensive list of internal procedures to be followed by agents and informers.

At the same time, it allows the continued use of electronic surveillance with court approval, it authorizes illegal actions in certain circumstances, and it increases the bureau's access to such confidential information as bank records without a grand jury subpoena.

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The charter sent to Congress today contains no major changes from an earlier draft that was obtained in May by several news organizations, including The New York Times.

The bureau has been operating for three years under guidelines established by former Attorney General Edward H. Levi to. prevent the continuation of such abuses. The charter is an effort to go one step further and put the bureau under permanent, statutory control.

Mr. Levi endorsed the charter today at a ceremony at F.B.I. headquarters, as did the chairmen and ranking Republican members of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, Attorney General Gritfin B. Bell and his designated successor, Benjamin R. Civiletti, F.B.I. Director William H. Webster and Stuart E: Eizenstat, assistant to the President for domestic affairs.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, who played a major role in preparing the draft, said, “The charter symbolizes the fact that the bureau has learned from its mistakes and come forward with a charter which will insure that the chronicled abuses of the past will not be repeated.”

https://www.nytimes.com/1979/08/01/archives/carter-administration-unveils-proposed-fbi-charter-plans-to-review.html

[Why has there been no Charter for the FBI? Is there one now?]

Carter Administration Unveils Proposed F.B.I. Charter

Aug 1, 1979

WASHINGTON. July 31 — The Carter Administration today formally unveiled its proposed governing charter for the Federal Bureau’ of Investigation. The charter, which would be the first for the bureau, restricts but does not prohibit such controversial investigative techniques as the use of informers, under‐. cover agents and covert criminal activity.

President Carter, in a message sent to Congress with the legislation, said, “The public must be assured that the F.B.I. is acting properly under the law. This charter strikes the proper balance between assuring that the civil liberties guaranteed to Americans by our Constitution are protected and that the F.B.I. can fully pursue its appropriate functions.”

The charter specifies the powers and duties of the bureau, establishing precise standards and procedures for the conduct of investigations. It creates safeguards against harassment of citizens, break‐ins and other past abuses.

The safeguards take the form of governing principles for the bureau, guidelines for‐conduct to be laid down by the Attorney General, and specific restrictions on some investigative work. The charter also contains extensive list of internal procedures to be followed by agents and informers.

At the same time, it allows the continued use of electronic surveillance with court approval, it authorizes illegal actions in certain circumstances, and it increases the bureau's access to such confidential information as bank records without a grand jury subpoena.

Get the best of The Times in your inbox

Sign up for From The Times:Stories handpicked by our editors, just for you.

Sign up for Today's Headlines:Wake up each morning to the day's top news, analysis and opinion delivered to your inbox.

Sign up for The Morning:Make sense of the news, every day, with David Leonhardt.

The charter sent to Congress today contains no major changes from an earlier draft that was obtained in May by several news organizations, including The New York Times.

The bureau has been operating for three years under guidelines established by former Attorney General Edward H. Levi to. prevent the continuation of such abuses. The charter is an effort to go one step further and put the bureau under permanent, statutory control.

Mr. Levi endorsed the charter today at a ceremony at F.B.I. headquarters, as did the chairmen and ranking Republican members of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, Attorney General Gritfin B. Bell and his designated successor, Benjamin R. Civiletti, F.B.I. Director William H. Webster and Stuart E: Eizenstat, assistant to the President for domestic affairs.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, who played a major role in preparing the draft, said, “The charter symbolizes the fact that the bureau has learned from its mistakes and come forward with a charter which will insure that the chronicled abuses of the past will not be repeated.”

https://www.nytimes.com/1979/08/01/archives/carter-administration-unveils-proposed-fbi-charter-plans-to-review.html