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S 759105th CongressSigned into LawSenate

An Act to amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to require the Secretary of State to submit an annual report to Congress concerning diplomatic immunity.

Policy Area: International Affairs
View on Congress.gov
Origin Chamber
Senate
Last Updated
Apr 7, 2025
Latest Action Date
Nov 12, 1998

Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 105-375.

Official Summary

Official summary has not been imported yet.

GovScope Watchdog™

AI Government Intelligence™
Executive Summary

This law amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to require the Secretary of State to submit an annual report to Congress regarding diplomatic immunity. The report is intended to provide Congress with updated information on issues related to diplomatic immunity, facilitating legislative oversight and informed decision-making in the area of international diplomatic relations.

Bottom Line

The law mandates annual reporting by the Secretary of State to Congress on diplomatic immunity, enhancing transparency and oversight in international affairs.

Policy Risk Level
🟢 Low
Neutral Risk Assessment
Key Points
  • Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to include a reporting requirement.
  • Requires the Secretary of State to submit an annual report to Congress concerning diplomatic immunity.
  • Aims to improve congressional oversight of diplomatic immunity issues.
Who Benefits?

['U.S. Congress, by receiving regular information on diplomatic immunity.', 'U.S. Department of State, by formalizing reporting responsibilities.', 'International diplomatic community, through clearer oversight mechanisms.']

Potential Concerns

['The law may impose additional administrative responsibilities on the Department of State.', 'Costs associated with preparing and submitting the annual report are not specified.', 'The scope and detail of the report are not defined in the available text, which could affect the effectiveness of oversight.']

Political Context

The bill was introduced and passed during the 105th Congress and was signed into law on November 12, 1998. It reflects congressional interest in maintaining oversight of diplomatic immunity, a key aspect of international relations and foreign policy.

Hidden Impact Review

Hidden impact flags detected: 1

GovScope reviewed 1 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.

1 Detected
Detected Flags
Indirect Effects

['Enhanced congressional oversight may influence U.S. diplomatic policy and practices regarding immunity.', 'Regular reporting could lead to increased awareness and potential legislative or policy adjustments related to diplomatic immunity.']

GovScope Watchdog Notes

The law establishes a formal mechanism for transparency and oversight by requiring annual reporting to Congress. However, the absence of detailed bill text limits assessment of the report's scope, content, and enforcement provisions. Monitoring the implementation of this reporting requirement is important to ensure it effectively informs congressional oversight.

Passage Likelihood: HighConfidence: 90%Model: gpt-4.1-mini

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