H.R. 9989 explained · 119th Congress · Pending in Congress
CITE Act of 2026
Cosponsors: none · per Congress.gov, 2026-10-14
Introduced: 2026-07-30
Latest action (2026-07-30): Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
What H.R. 9989 does, in plain terms
The Congressional Research Service has not published a summary of H.R. 9989 yet. Its official title: “CITE Act of 2026”.
Constitution Index
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H.R. 9989 has not been graded yet. New measures with an official summary are graded daily under the published rubric.
The Framers
“Founders’ Verdict”
Confidence 0.50
Archived SI output (machine-generated)No editorial review recorded. This historical SI verdict was machine-generated by software and predates the review desk; check it against the official bill text.
Synthesis
The Founders are evenly divided (2-2). Hamilton and Marshall argue the bill is constitutional under the Necessary and Proper Clause and Elections Clause, while Madison and Jefferson contend it imposes additional qualifications and infringes on reserved rights. The bill may be constitutional if carefully applied to avoid overreach and protect property rights.
This bill is constitutional under the Necessary and Proper Clause, as it is a means to ensure the integrity of the federal government and prevent corruption or conflicts of interest among federal officers. Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 grants Congress the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution the powers vested in the federal government. Additionally, Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 allows Congress to regulate the qualifications and conduct of federal officers, including the President, to preserve the public trust. The requirement to divest or place securitie…
The Constitution does not grant Congress the authority to impose additional qualifications for federal office beyond those specified in Article I and Article II. Requiring candidates to divest or place securities in a blind trust infringes upon the right to private property, which is protected by the Ninth Amendment, and exceeds the enumerated powers of Congress, as reserved by the Tenth Amendment. The Necessary and Proper Clause cannot justify such an expansion of federal power, as it is not tethered to any specific constitutional grant. This bill would improperly restrict the liberty of indi…
The Constitution prescribes fixed qualifications for federal office in Article I, Section 2, Clause 2 and Article I, Section 3, Clause 3, and Article II, Section 1, Clause 5. Congress may not add to these qualifications by statute. Requiring divestiture of securities or placement in a blind trust imposes a new condition on candidacy that is not among the enumerated qualifications. While Congress has authority over the times, places, and manner of elections under Article I, Section 4, Clause 1, this power does not extend to altering the essential qualifications for office. The Federalist Papers…
This bill is a constitutional exercise of Congress's power to regulate the manner of federal elections. The Elections Clause (Article I, Section 4, Clause 1) grants Congress authority to prescribe the times, places, and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, and by extension, the manner of candidacy. Requiring candidates to divest or place securities in a blind trust upon filing is a reasonable regulation to prevent conflicts of interest and preserve the integrity of the electoral process. The Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) empowers Congres…
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