Opinion ID: 2967920
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the sentence for the instant offense shall be

Text: imposed to run concurrently to the remainder of the undischarged term of imprisonment. U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3(b) (2003), available at http://www.ussc.gov/ 2003guid/5g1_3.htm. Clarifying amendments are relevant in our construction of previous versions of the guidelines. See United States v. Butner, 277 F.3d 481, 489 (4th Cir. 2002). We therefore must consider whether the amendment of § 5G1.3(b) is clarifying or substantive. A clarifying amendment changes nothing concerning the legal effect of the guidelines, but merely clarifies what the Commission deems the guidelines to have already meant. United States v. Capers, 61 F.3d 1100, 1109 (4th Cir. 1995) (internal quotation marks omitted). In contrast, [s]ubstantive amendments typically reflect new policy choices by the Commission. United States v. Goines, 357 F.3d 469, 2004 WL 144119, at  (4th Cir. Jan. 28, 2004). Our primary guide in determining whether an amendment is clarifying or substantive is the purpose and effect of the amendment. Capers, 61 F.3d at 1110. The Commission’s characterization of an amendment as clarifying or substantive is relevant but not conclusive, for otherwise the Commission would be able to enact substantive amendments under the guise of mere clarification. See id. 6 UNITED STATES v. ROUSE The Commission has characterized the amendment of § 5G1.3(b) and its accompanying commentary as clarifying. See U.S.S.G. App. C, amend. 660. Nevertheless, application of the principles outlined above makes it clear that the amendment is substantive. Prior to the amendment, a prior offense could be fully taken into account even if inclusion of the offense as relevant conduct did not effect a change in the defendant’s offense level. Compare U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3, comment. (n.2) (providing an example in which the offense of conviction involved the sale of 30 grams of cocaine and the defendant is held accountable for the sale of an additional 15 grams of cocaine, an offense for which the defendant has been convicted and sentenced in state court), with U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(c)(13) (providing a base offense level of 14 for [a]t least 25 G but less than 50 G of Cocaine). The amended guideline, however, requires the conduct underlying the prior conviction to have been the basis for an increase in the offense level for the instant offense. U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3(b) (2003). The amendment thus works a substantive change in the operation of the guideline, Capers, 61 F.3d at 1110, and cannot be considered clarifying.