The Federal Death Penalty Act of 1994 was enacted as Title VI
of the
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 and became
effective on
September 13, 1994. See Pub. L. 103-322, Title VI, Sections
60001-26,
Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1959 (codified at 18 U.S.C. 3591-3598).
In passing
this legislation, Congress established constitutional procedures
for imposition
of the death penalty for 60 offenses under 13 existing and 28
newly-created
Federal capital statutes, which fall into three broad categories:
(1) homicide
offenses; (2) espionage and treason; and (3) non-homicidal
narcotics offenses.
Drug-related killings under 21 U.S.C. 848(e) and political
assassinations under
18 U.S.C. 1751 (presidential and staff) and 18 U.S.C. 351
(congressional and
cabinet, etc.) are not expressly included in the Act's otherwise
exhaustive
listing of death penalty offenses. However, Section 3591(a)(2) of
the Act
expressly extends to "any other offense for which a sentence of
death is provided
. . . ."