7 U.S.C. § 12a — Registration of commodity dealers and associated persons; regulation of registered entities

The Commission is authorized— (1) to register futures commission merchants, associated persons of futures commission merchants, introducing brokers, associated persons of introducing brokers, commodity trading advisors, associated persons of commodity trading advisors, commodity pool operators, associated persons of commodity pool operators, floor brokers, and floor traders upon application in accordance with rules and regulations and in the form and manner to be prescribed by the Commission, which may require the applicant, and such persons associated with the applicant as the Commission may specify, to be fingerprinted and to submit, or cause to be submitted, such fingerprints to the Attorney General for identification and appropriate processing, and in connection therewith to fix and establish from time to time reasonable fees and charges for registrations and renewals thereof: Provided, That notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, the Commission may grant a temporary license to any applicant for registration with the Commission pursuant to such rules, regulations, or orders as the Commission may adopt, except that the term of any such temporary license shall not exceed six months from the date of its issuance; (2) upon notice, but without a hearing and pursuant to such rules, regulations, or orders as the Commission may adopt, to refuse to register, to register conditionally, or to suspend or place restrictions upon the registration of, any person and with such a hearing as may be appropriate to revoke the registration of any person— Provided, That such person may appeal from a decision to refuse registration, condition registration, suspend, revoke or to place restrictions upon registration made pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph in the manner provided in [section 9 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section9&num=0&edition=prelim); and Provided, further, That for the purposes of paragraphs (2) and (3) of this section, “principal” shall mean, if the person is a partnership, any general partner or, if the person is a corporation, any officer, director, or beneficial owner of at least 10 per centum of the voting shares of the corporation, and any other person that the Commission by rule, regulation, or order determines has the power, directly or indirectly, through agreement or otherwise, to exercise a controlling influence over the activities of such person which are subject to regulation by the Commission; (A) if a prior registration of such person in any capacity has been suspended (and the period of such suspension has not expired) or has been revoked; (B) if registration of such person in any capacity has been refused under the provisions of paragraph (3) of this section within five years preceding the filing of the application for registration or at any time thereafter; (C) if such person is permanently or temporarily enjoined by order, judgment, or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction (except that registration may not be revoked solely on the basis of such temporary order, judgment, or decree), including an order entered pursuant to an agreement of settlement to which the Commission or any Federal or State agency or other governmental body is a party, from (i) acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, floor broker, floor trader, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, associated person of any registrant under this chapter, securities broker, securities dealer, municipal securities broker, municipal securities dealer, transfer agent, clearing agency, securities information processor, investment adviser, investment company, or affiliated person or employee of any of the foregoing or (ii) engaging in or continuing any activity where such activity involves embezzlement, theft, extortion, fraud, fraudulent conversion, misappropriation of funds, securities or property, forgery, counterfeiting, false pretenses, bribery, gambling, or any transaction in or advice concerning contracts of sale of a commodity for future delivery, concerning matters subject to Commission regulation under section 6c or 23 of this title, or concerning securities; (D) if such person has been convicted within ten years preceding the filing of the application for registration or at any time thereafter of any felony that (i) involves any transactions or advice concerning any contract of sale of a commodity for future delivery, or any activity subject to Commission regulation under section 6c or 23 of this title, or concerning a security, (ii) arises out of the conduct of the business of a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, floor broker, floor trader, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, associated person of any registrant under this chapter, securities broker, securities dealer, municipal securities broker, municipal securities dealer, transfer agent, clearing agency, securities information processor, investment adviser, investment company, or an affiliated person or employee of any of the foregoing, (iii) involves embezzlement, theft, extortion, fraud, fraudulent conversion, misappropriation of funds, securities or property, forgery, counterfeiting, false pretenses, bribery, or gambling, or (iv) involves the violation of section 152, 1001, 1341, 1342, 1343, 1503, 1623, 1961, 1962, 1963, or 2314, or chapter 25, 47, 95, or 96 of title 18, or section 7201 or 7206 of title 26; (E) if such person, within ten years preceding the filing of the application or at any time thereafter, has been found in a proceeding brought by the Commission or any Federal or State agency or other governmental body, or by agreement of settlement to which the Commission or any Federal or State agency or other governmental body is a party, (i) to have violated any provision of this chapter, the Securities Act of 1933 [[15 U.S.C. 77a](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section77a&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.], the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [[15 U.S.C. 78a](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section78a&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.], the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935,11 See References in Text note below. the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 [[15 U.S.C. 77aaa](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section77aaa&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.], the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 [[15 U.S.C. 80b–1](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section80b–1&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.], the Investment Company Act of 1940 [[15 U.S.C. 80a–1](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section80a–1&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.], the Securities Investors 22 So in original. Probably should be “Investor”. Protection Act of 1970 [[15 U.S.C. 78aaa](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section78aaa&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.], the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, chapter 96 of title 18, or any similar statute of a State or foreign jurisdiction, or any rule, regulation, or order under any such statutes, or the rules of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board where such violation involves embezzlement, theft, extortion, fraud, fraudulent conversion, misappropriation of funds, securities or property, forgery, counterfeiting, false pretenses, bribery, or gambling, or (ii) to have willfully aided, abetted, counseled, commanded, induced, or procured such violation by any other person; (F) if such person is subject to an outstanding order of the Commission denying privileges on any registered entity to such person, denying, suspending, or revoking such person’s membership in any registered entity or registered futures association, or barring or suspending such person from being associated with a registrant under this chapter or with a member of a registered entity or with a member of a registered futures association; (G) if, as to any of the matters set forth in this paragraph and paragraph (3), such person willfully made any materially false or misleading statement or omitted to state any material fact in such person’s application or any update thereto; or (H) if refusal, suspension, or revocation of the registration of any principal of such person would be warranted because of a statutory disqualification listed in this paragraph: (3) to refuse to register or to register conditionally any person, if it is found, after opportunity for hearing, that— Provided, That pending final determination under this paragraph, registration shall not be granted: Provided further, That such person may appeal from a decision to refuse registration or to condition registration made pursuant to this paragraph in the manner provided in [section 9 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section9&num=0&edition=prelim); (A) such person has been found by the Commission or by any court of competent jurisdiction to have violated, or has consented to findings of a violation of, any provision of this chapter, or any rule, regulation, or order thereunder (other than a violation set forth in paragraph (2) of this section), or to have willfully aided, abetted, counseled, commanded, induced, or procured the violation by any other person of any such provision; (B) such person has been found by any court of competent jurisdiction or by any Federal or State agency or other governmental body, or by agreement of settlement to which any Federal or State agency or other governmental body is a party, (i) to have violated any provision of the Securities Act of 1933 [[15 U.S.C. 77a](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section77a&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.], the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [[15 U.S.C. 78a](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section78a&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.], the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935,1 the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 [[15 U.S.C. 77aaa](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section77aaa&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.], the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 [[15 U.S.C. 80b–1](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section80b–1&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.], the Investment Company Act of 1940 [[15 U.S.C. 80a–1](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section80a–1&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.], the Securities Investors 2 Protection Act of 1970 [[15 U.S.C. 78aaa](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section78aaa&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.], the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, or any similar statute of a State or foreign jurisdiction, or any rule, regulation, or order under any such statutes, or the rules of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board or (ii) to have willfully aided, abetted, counseled, commanded, induced, or procured such violation by any other person; (C) such person failed reasonably to supervise another person, who is subject to such person’s supervision, with a view to preventing violations of this chapter, or of any of the statutes set forth in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, or of any of the rules, regulations, or orders thereunder, and the person subject to supervision committed such a violation: Provided, That no person shall be deemed to have failed reasonably to supervise another person, within the meaning of this subparagraph if (i) there have been established procedures, and a system for applying such procedures, which would reasonably be expected to prevent and detect, insofar as practicable, any such violation by such other person and (ii) such person has reasonably discharged the duties and obligations incumbent upon that person, as supervisor, by reason of such procedures and system, without reasonable cause to believe that such procedures and system were not being complied with; (D) such person pleaded guilty to or was convicted of a felony other than a felony of the type specified in paragraph (2)(D) of this section, or was convicted of a felony of the type specified in paragraph (2)(D) of this section more than ten years preceding the filing of the application; (E) such person pleaded guilty to or was convicted of any misdemeanor which (i) involves any transaction or advice concerning any contract of sale of a commodity for future delivery or any activity subject to Commission regulation under section 6c or 23 of this title or concerning a security, (ii) arises out of the conduct of the business of a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, floor broker, floor trader, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, associated person of any registrant under this chapter, securities broker, securities dealer, municipal securities broker, municipal securities dealer, transfer agent, clearing agency, securities information processor, investment adviser, investment company, or an affiliated person or employee of any of the foregoing, (iii) involves embezzlement, theft, extortion, fraud, fraudulent conversion, misappropriation of funds, securities or property, forgery, counterfeiting, false pretenses, bribery, or gambling, (iv) involves the violation of section 152, 1341, 1342, or 1343 or chapter 25, 47, 95, or 96 of title 18, or section 7203, 7204, 7205, or 7207 of title 26; (F) such person was debarred by any agency of the United States from contracting with the United States; (G) such person willfully made any materially false or misleading statement or willfully omitted to state any material fact in such person’s application or any update thereto, in any report required to be filed with the Commission by this chapter or the regulations thereunder, in any proceeding before the Commission or in any registration disqualification proceeding; (H) such person has pleaded nolo contendere to criminal charges of felonious conduct, or has been convicted in a State court, in a United States military court, or in a foreign court of conduct which would constitute a felony under Federal law if the offense had been committed under Federal jurisdiction; (I) in the case of an applicant for registration in any capacity for which there are minimum financial requirements prescribed under this chapter or under the rules or regulations of the Commission, such person has not established that such person meets such minimum financial requirements; (J) such person is subject to an outstanding order denying, suspending, or expelling such person from membership in a registered entity, a registered futures association, any other self-regulatory organization, or any foreign regulatory body that the Commission recognizes as having a comparable regulatory program or barring or suspending such person from being associated with any member or members of such registered entity, association, self-regulatory organization, or foreign regulatory body; (K) such person has been found by any court of competent jurisdiction or by any Federal or State agency or other governmental body, or by agreement of settlement to which any Federal or State agency or other governmental body is a party, (i) to have violated any statute or any rule, regulation, or order thereunder which involves embezzlement, theft, extortion, fraud, fraudulent conversion, misappropriation of funds, securities or property, forgery, counterfeiting, false pretenses, bribery, or gambling or (ii) to have willfully aided, abetted, counseled, commanded, induced or procured such violation by any other person; (L) such person has associated with such person any other person and knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, of facts regarding such other person that are set forth as statutory disqualifications in paragraph (2) of this section, unless such person has notified the Commission of such facts and the Commission has determined that such other person should be registered or temporarily licensed; (M) there is other good cause; or (N) any principal, as defined in paragraph (2) of this section, of such person has been or could be refused registration: (4) in accordance with the procedure provided for in [section 9 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section9&num=0&edition=prelim), to suspend, revoke, or place restrictions upon the registration of any person registered under this chapter if cause exists under paragraph (3) of this section which would warrant a refusal of registration of such person, and to suspend or revoke the registration of any futures commission merchant or introducing broker who shall knowingly accept any order for the purchase or sale of any commodity for future delivery on or subject to the rules of any registered entity from any person if such person has been denied trading privileges on any registered entity by order of the Commission under [section 9 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section9&num=0&edition=prelim) and the period of denial specified in such order shall not have expired: Provided, That such person may appeal from a decision to suspend, revoke, or place restrictions upon registration made pursuant to this paragraph in the manner provided in [section 9 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section9&num=0&edition=prelim); (5) to make and promulgate such rules and regulations as, in the judgment of the Commission, are reasonably necessary to effectuate any of the provisions or to accomplish any of the purposes of this chapter; (6) to communicate to the proper committee or officer of any registered entity, registered futures association, or self-regulatory organization as defined in section 3(a)(26) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [[15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26)](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section78c/a/26&num=0&edition=prelim)], notwithstanding the provisions of [section 12 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section12&num=0&edition=prelim), the full facts concerning any transaction or market operation, including the names of parties thereto, which in the judgment of the Commission disrupts or tends to disrupt any market or is otherwise harmful or against the best interests of producers, consumers, or investors, or which is necessary or appropriate to effectuate the purposes of this chapter: Provided, That any information furnished by the Commission under this paragraph shall not be disclosed by such registered entity, registered futures association, or self-regulatory organization except in any self-regulatory action or proceeding; (7) to alter or supplement the rules of a registered entity insofar as necessary or appropriate by rule or regulation or by order, if after making the appropriate request in writing to a registered entity that such registered entity effect on its own behalf specified changes in its rules and practices, and after appropriate notice and opportunity for hearing, the Commission determines that such registered entity has not made the changes so required, and that such changes are necessary or appropriate for the protection of persons producing, handling, processing, or consuming any commodity traded for future delivery on such registered entity, or the product or byproduct thereof, or for the protection of traders or to insure fair dealing in commodities traded for future delivery on such registered entity. Such rules, regulations, or orders may specify changes with respect to such matters as— (A) terms or conditions in contracts of sale to be executed on or subject to the rules of such registered entity; (B) the form or manner of execution of purchases and sales for future delivery; (C) other trading requirements; (D) margin requirements, provided that the rules, regulations, or orders shall— (i) be limited to protecting the financial integrity of the derivatives clearing organization; (ii) be designed for risk management purposes to protect the financial integrity of transactions; and (iii) not set specific margin amounts; (E) safeguards with respect to the financial responsibility of members; (F) the manner, method, and place of soliciting business, including the content of such solicitations; and (G) the form and manner of handling, recording, and accounting for customers’ orders, transactions, and accounts; (8) to make and promulgate such rules and regulations with respect to those persons registered under this chapter, who are not members of a registered entity, as in the judgment of the Commission are reasonably necessary to protect the public interest and promote just and equitable principles of trade, including but not limited to the manner, method, and place of soliciting business, including the content of such solicitation; (9) to direct the registered entity, whenever it has reason to believe that an emergency exists, to take such action as in the Commission’s judgment is necessary to maintain or restore orderly trading in or liquidation of any futures contract, including, but not limited to, the setting of temporary emergency margin levels on any futures contract, and the fixing of limits that may apply to a market position acquired in good faith prior to the effective date of the Commission’s action. The term “emergency” as used herein shall mean, in addition to threatened or actual market manipulations and corners, any act of the United States or a foreign government affecting a commodity or any other major market disturbance which prevents the market from accurately reflecting the forces of supply and demand for such commodity. Any action taken by the Commission under this paragraph shall be subject to review only in the United States Court of Appeals for the circuit in which the party seeking review resides or has its principal place of business, or in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Such review shall be based upon an examination of all the information before the Commission at the time the determination was made. The court reviewing the Commission’s action shall not enter a stay or order of mandamus unless it has determined, after notice and hearing before a panel of the court, that the agency action complained of was arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit the meaning or interpretation given by a registered entity to the terms “market emergency”, “emergency”, or equivalent language in its own bylaws, rules, regulations, or resolutions; (10) to authorize any person to perform any portion of the registration functions under this chapter, in accordance with rules, notwithstanding any other provision of law, adopted by such person and submitted to the Commission for approval or, if applicable, for review pursuant to [section 21(j) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section21/j&num=0&edition=prelim), and subject to the provisions of this chapter applicable to registrations granted by the Commission; and (11) (A) by written notice served on the person and pursuant to such rules, regulations, and orders as the Commission may adopt, to suspend or modify the registration of any person registered under this chapter who is charged (in any information, indictment, or complaint authorized by a United States attorney or an appropriate official of any State) with the commission of or participation in a crime involving a violation of this chapter, or a violation of any other provision of Federal or State law that would reflect on the honesty or the fitness of the person to act as a fiduciary (including an offense specified in subparagraph (D) or (E) of paragraph (2)) that is punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, if the Commission determines that continued registration of the person may pose a threat to the public interest or may threaten to impair public confidence in any market regulated by the Commission. (B) Prior to the suspension or modification of the registration of a person under this paragraph, the person shall be afforded an opportunity for a hearing at which the Commission shall have the burden of showing that the continued registration of the person does, or is likely to, pose a threat to the public interest or threaten to impair public confidence in any market regulated by the Commission. (C) Any notice of suspension or modification issued under this paragraph shall remain in effect until such information, indictment, or complaint is disposed of or until terminated by the Commission. (D) On disposition of such information, indictment, or complaint, the Commission may issue and serve on such person an order pursuant to paragraph (2) or (4) to suspend, restrict, or revoke the registration of such person. (E) A finding of not guilty or other disposition of the charge shall not preclude the Commission from thereafter instituting any other proceedings under this chapter. (F) A person aggrieved by an order issued under this paragraph may obtain review of such order in the same manner and on the same terms and conditions as are provided in [section 8(b) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section8/b&num=0&edition=prelim).