Appointment of Vice Chair of Federal Reserve Board to Serve Concurrently as Chair of the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority

CourtDepartment of Justice Office of Legal Counsel
DecidedJune 1, 1998
StatusPublished

This text of Appointment of Vice Chair of Federal Reserve Board to Serve Concurrently as Chair of the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority (Appointment of Vice Chair of Federal Reserve Board to Serve Concurrently as Chair of the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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Appointment of Vice Chair of Federal Reserve Board to Serve Concurrently as Chair of the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority, (olc 1998).

Opinion

Appointment of Vice Chair of Federal Reserve Board to Serve Concurrently as Chair of the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority T he Vice C hair o f the Federal R eserve Board m ay also serve as C hair o f the D istrict o f C olum bia Financial Responsibility and M anagem ent A ssistance A uthority without violating sections 205 or 208 o f title 18. Her dual service would also have to com ply with the Federal Reserve A ct’s “ entire­ tim e” requirem ent.

June 1, 1998

M e m o r a n d u m O p in io n f o r t h e C o u n s e l t o t h e P r e s id e n t

You have asked for our views on whether the President may appoint Alice Rivlin to be Chair of the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority (the “ Authority” ), while Dr. Rivlin continues to serve in her current capacity as Vice Chair and a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “ Federal Reserve Board” ). Upon review of the federal conflict of interest statutes,1 the prohibition on compensation for dual offices, and the requirements of the Federal Reserve Act, we conclude that the relevant statutory authorities do not prohibit the proposed appointment, but that Dr. Rivlin must continue to perform her duties as Vice Chair of the Fed­ eral Reserve Board on a full-time basis. She would thus have to work with the Federal Reserve Board and its General Counsel to ensure compliance with the Federal Reserve Act.

I. B ackground

Congress created the Authority in 1995,2 pursuant to its constitutional authority over the District of Columbia.3 The Authority is “ an entity within the government of the District of Columbia.” § 101(a), 109 Stat. at 100. It consists of five mem­ bers appointed by the President, in accordance with specific statutory criteria,4 one of whom is designated by the President to be the Chair of the Authority.

1We have consulted with the Office o f Government Ethics with regard to the application of the conflict of interest statutes to this matter 2 District o f Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995, Pub L No 104-8, 109 Stat 97 (the “ D.C. Financial Responsibility Act” o r the “ Act” ). Subsequent to its 1995 enactment, the Act was amended several times in respects not material to the analysis below, unless otherwise citcd. 2Id § 2(c)(2), 109 Stat. at 98 (citing U.S Const art 1, §8, cl 17) 4 The Act provides that a member o f the A uthonty must be an individual who1 “ (I) has knowledge and expertise in finance, management, and the organization or operation o f business or government, (2) does not provide goods or services to the District government [and does not have a close relative who does soj, (3) is not an officer or employee o f the District government, and (4) maintains a primary residence in the District of Columbia or has a primary place o f business in the District o f Columbia ” § 101(c), 109 Stat at 101 We understand that you have determined that Dr. Rivlin would meet all o f these cntena Accordingly, we do not address her qualifications for appointment

109 Opinions o f the Office o f Legal Counsel in Volume 22

Id. § 101(b), (c). Congress intended for the Authority to assist the government of the District of Columbia in combating its financial and management problems by developing a “ comprehensive approach to fiscal, management, and structural” issues. Id. § 2(a)(5), 109 Stat. at 98. Dr. Rivlin was appointed by the President in 1996 as Vice Chair and a member of the Federal Reserve Board for a term of fourteen years. See generally 12 U.S.C. §§241-242(1994).

II. Conflict of Interest Laws

A. Section 208 and the Prohibition on Acts Affecting a Personal Financial Interest Section 208 of title 18 prohibits participation in any “ particular matter” that may affect an individual’s personal financial interest. The statute applies to any

officer or employee of the executive branch of the United States Government, or of any independent agency of the United States, a Federal Reserve bank director, officer, or employee, or an officer or employee of the District o f Columbia . . . .

18 U.S.C. § 208(a) (1994). A personal financial interest is imputed to an individual if “ his spouse, minor child, general partner, organization in which he is serving as officer, director, trustee, general partner or employee” has a financial interest in a matter covered by § 208. Id. Thus, the question arises whether the financial interest o f the District of Columbia would be imputed to Dr. Rivlin by service on the Authority concurrent with her service in the Federal Reserve Board. In fact, the statute is not implicated in this circumstance because, for purposes of § 208, the interests o f the United States include those o f the District of Columbia.5 By grouping the District of Columbia together with the executive branch, independent agencies and Federal Reserve banks, § 208 effectively defines the interests of the United States that are protected under the statute as including those of the District o f Columbia. See A pplicability o f 18 U.S.C. § 208 to the Federal Communications Commission’s Representative on the Board o f Directors o f the Telecommunications Development Fund, 21 Op. O.L.C. 95, 96 (1997) (“ FCC Opinion” ) (§ 208(a) applies only to conflicts between the federal govern­ ment and outside organizations and does not encompass intra-govemmental con­ flicts between entities covered by the provision). The inclusion of the District of Columbia along with executive branch entities is not incidental. Before 1989, §§203, 205, and 207 of title 18, like §208, all included the District of Columbia among the federal entities comprising the interests of the United States to be protected by the provisions. See generally

5 Section 208, of course, would apply to Dr. Rivlin in her personal capacity.

110 Appointment o f Vice Chair o f Federal Reserve Board to Serve Concurrently as Chair o f the District o f Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority

18 U.S.C. §§203, 205, 207 (1988). In 1989, however, Congress amended §§203, 205, and 207 to separate the District of Columbia and specifically treat the interests of the District as distinct from those of the United States.6 Although Congress made other changes to § 208 at that time, it did not alter the treatment of the District. Thus, we may infer that Congress has intentionally treated the interests of the United States and the District as identical for the purposes of § 208.7 In addition, our interpretation of § 208 in this circumstance is reinforced by opinions of this Office in connection with the earlier version of § 205 that included that the District of Columbia with the executive departments and agencies. Assist­ ant Attorney General Rehnquist concluded that because the District of Columbia was included with executive departments and agencies in § 205, matters involving the District of Columbia were ones in which the United States had an interest within the meaning of the statute. Letter for Anthony L. Mondello, General Counsel, United States Civil Service Commission, from William H. Rehnquist, Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel (Mar. 26, 1970). This Office reiterated that conclusion on subsequent occasions before the 1989 amendments.

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