A bill to amend the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act to repeal the authority of the President to sustain vetoes by the Mayor of the District of Columbia of acts passed by the Council of the District of Columbia and re-passed by two-thirds of the Council, to change the period during which acts of the Council of the District of Columbia are subject to congressional review, and for other purposes.
PL 95-526 (H.R.12116), enacted 10/27/1978

PUBLIC LAW 95-526—OCT. 27, 1978 
92 STAT. 2023 
Public Law 95-526 
95th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the District, of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorga-
nization Act to repeal the authority of the President to sustain vetoes by the 
Mayor of the District of Columbia of acts passed by the Council of the District 
of Columbia and repassed by two-thirds of the Council, to change the period 
during vv'hich acts of the Council of the District of Columbia are subject to 
congressional review, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America 
in Congress assembled, That the District of 
Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act 
is amended as follows: 
(1) Subsection (e) of section 404 is amended— 
(A) in the fourth sentence, by striking out the period and 
inserting in lieu thereof "unless the Council by a recess of 10 
days or more prevents its return, in which case it shall not 
become law."; and 
(B) by striking out "be transmitted by the Chairman" in 
the fifth sentence and all that follows in such subsection and 
inserting in lieu thereof "become law subject to the pro-
visions of section 602(c).". 
(2) Section 602(c) (1) is amended— 
(A) in the first sentence— 
(i) by striking out "(and with respect to which the 
President has not sustained the Mayor's veto)"; 
(ii) by striking out "and every" and inserting in lieu 
thereof "each"; and 
(iii) by striking out the period and inserting in lieu 
thereof ", and each initiated act and act subject to refer-
endum which has been ratified by a majority of the regis-
tered qualified electors voting on the initiative 
or 
referendum."; and 
(B) in the second sentence, by striking out "either House 
is not in session" and inserting in lieu thereof "neither House 
is in session because of an adjournment sine die, a recess of 
more than 3 days, or an adjournment of more than 3 days". 
(3) Amendment No. 1 (relating to initiative and referendum) 
to title TV (the District Charter) is amended-— 
(A) by striking out sections 5 and 6 and inserting in lieu 
thereof the following: 
"SEC. 5. If a majority of the registered qualified electors voting in 
a referendum approve an act or adopt legislation by initiative, then 
the adopted initiative or the act approved by referendum shall be 
an act of the Council upon the certification of the vote on such initiative 
or act by the District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics, 
and such act shall become law subject to the provisions of section 
602(c)."; and 
(B) by redesignating sections 7 and 8 as sections 6 and 7, 
respectively. 
(4) Section 412(a) is amended by inserting "(other than an 
act to which section 446 applies)" in the third sentence after 
"Each proposed act". 
Oct. 27, 1978 
[H.R. 12116] 
District of 
Columbia Self-
Govemment and 
Governmental 
Reorganization 
Act, amendment. 
D.C. Code note 
prec. title 1. 
D.C. Code 1-144. 
D.C. Code 1-147. 
D.C. Code 1-141. 
Supra. 
D.C. Code 1-146. 
92 STAT. 2024 
PUBLIC LAW 95-526—OCT. 27, 1978 
Effective dates. 
SEC. 2. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the amendments 
made by this Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(b) (1) The amendment made by subparagraph (A) of paragraph 
(1) of the first section of this Act shall apply with respect to acts 
of the Council of the District of Columbia presented to the Mayor of 
the District of Columbia after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) The amendment made by subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) 
of the first section of this Act shall apply with respect to acts of the 
Council of the District of Columbia transmitted by the Chairman 
of the Council to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and 
the President of the Senate under section 602(c) of the District of 
Ante, p. 2023. 
Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Approved October 27, 1978. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-1104 (Comm. on the District of Columbia). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-1291 (Comm. on Governmental Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 124 (1978): 
Sept. 12, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 12, considered and passed Senate.