---
kind: "section"
citation: "2 U.S.C. § 396"
title: "2"
title_heading: "The Congress"
number: "396"
heading: "Allowance of party’s expenses"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/2/396"
units:
  - "Chapter 12 — Contested Elections"
---

# §396. Allowance of party’s expenses


The [committee](/usc/2/381.md?p=7) may allow any party reimbursement from the applicable accounts of the House of Representatives of his reasonable expenses of the contested [election](/usc/2/381.md?p=1) case, including reasonable attorneys fees, upon the verified application of such party accompanied by a complete and detailed account of his expenses and supporting vouchers and receipts.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–138, § 17, Dec. 5, 1969, 83 Stat. 290; Pub. L. 104–186, title II, § 211(4), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1744.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–186 substituted “applicable accounts” for “contingent fund”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section applicable with respect to any general or special election for Representative in, or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress of the United States occurring after Dec. 5, 1969, see section 19 of Pub. L. 91–138, set out as a note under section 381 of this title.