Constitutional Accountability Act

The Constitutional Accountability Act would establish that the United States, States, and local governments can be held financially responsible for constitutional violations committed by law enforcement officers. Currently, legal doctrines like qualified immunity and sovereign immunity shield government officials and entities from civil liability in many cases, even when constitutional rights are violated.

If enacted, this bill would remove these legal protections and allow citizens to sue federal, state, and local governments directly for damages when law enforcement officers violate constitutional rights. The bill's supporters argue that current liability rules are insufficient to ensure police departments adequately train, hire, supervise, and discipline officers to prevent constitutional violations. The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House.