18 U.S.C. § 2386 — Registration of certain organizations

Page 616 TITLE 18—CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE § 2386 desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or de- stroying the government of the United States or the government of any State, Territory, District or Possession thereof, or the government of any political subdivision therein, by force or vio- lence, or by the assassination of any officer of any such government; or Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any such government, prints, publishes, edits, issues, circulates, sells, distrib- utes, or publicly displays any written or printed matter advocating, advising, or teaching the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying any government in the United States by force or violence, or at- tempts to do so; or Whoever organizes or helps or attempts to or- ganize any society, group, or assembly of per- sons who teach, advocate, or encourage the overthrow or destruction of any such govern- ment by force or violence; or becomes or is a member of, or affiliates with, any such society, group, or assembly of persons, knowing the pur- poses thereof— Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction. If two or more persons conspire to commit any offense named in this section, each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any depart- ment or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction. As used in this section, the terms ‘‘organizes’’ and ‘‘organize’’, with respect to any society, group, or assembly of persons, include the re- cruiting of new members, the forming of new units, and the regrouping or expansion of exist- ing clubs, classes, and other units of such soci- ety, group, or assembly of persons. (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 808; July 24, 1956, ch. 678, § 2, 70 Stat. 623; Pub. L. 87–486, June 19, 1962, 76 Stat. 103; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(N), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 10, 11, 13 (June 28, 1940, ch. 439, title I, §§ 2, 3, 5, 54 Stat. 670, 671). Section consolidates sections 10, 11, and 13 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed. Section 13 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., which contained the punishment provisions applicable to sections 10 and 11 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., was combined with section 11 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., and added to this section. In first paragraph, words ‘‘the Government of the United States or the government of any State, Terri- tory, District or possession thereof, or the government of any political subdivision therein’’ were substituted for ‘‘any government in the United States’’. In second and third paragraphs, word ‘‘such’’ was in- serted after ‘‘any’’ and before ‘‘government’’, and words ‘‘in the United States’’ which followed ‘‘government’’ were omitted. In view of these changes, the provisions of subsection (b) of section 10 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., which de- fined the term ‘‘government in the United States’’ were omitted as unnecessary. Reference to conspiracy to commit any of the prohib- ited acts was omitted as covered by the general con- spiracy provision, incorporated in section 371 of this title. (See reviser’s note under that section.) Words ‘‘upon conviction thereof’’ which preceded ‘‘be fined’’ were omitted as surplusage, as punishment can- not be imposed until a conviction is secured. The phraseology was considerably changed to effect consolidation but without any change of substance. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted ‘‘fined under this title’’ for ‘‘fined not more than $20,000’’ in fourth and fifth pars. 1962—Pub. L. 87–486 defined the terms ‘‘organizes’’ and ‘‘organize’’. 1956—Act July 24, 1956, substituted ‘‘$20,000’’ for ‘‘$10,000’’, and ‘‘twenty years’’ for ‘‘ten years’’ in the paragraph prescribing penalties applicable to advo- cating overthrow of government and inserted provi- sions relating to conspiracy to commit any offense named in this section. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1956 AMENDMENT Amendment by act July 24, 1956, as applicable only with respect to offenses committed on and after July 24, 1956, see section 3 of act July 24, 1956, set out as a note under section 2384 of this title. § 2386. Registration of certain organizations (A) For the purposes of this section: ‘‘Attorney General’’ means the Attorney Gen- eral of the United States; ‘‘Organization’’ means any group, club, league, society, committee, association, political party, or combination of individuals, whether incor- porated or otherwise, but such term shall not in- clude any corporation, association, community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and oper- ated exclusively for religious, charitable, sci- entific, literary, or educational purposes; ‘‘Political activity’’ means any activity the purpose or aim of which, or one of the purposes or aims of which, is the control by force or over- throw of the Government of the United States or a political subdivision thereof, or any State or political subdivision thereof; An organization is engaged in ‘‘civilian mili- tary activity’’ if: (1) it gives instruction to, or prescribes in- struction for, its members in the use of fire- arms or other weapons or any substitute therefor, or military or naval science; or (2) it receives from any other organization or from any individual instruction in military or naval science; or (3) it engages in any military or naval ma- neuvers or activities; or (4) it engages, either with or without arms, in drills or parades of a military or naval char- acter; or (5) it engages in any other form of organized activity which in the opinion of the Attorney General constitutes preparation for military action; An organization is ‘‘subject to foreign con- trol’’ if: (a) it solicits or accepts financial contribu- tions, loans, or support of any kind, directly or indirectly, from, or is affiliated directly or indirectly with, a foreign government or a po- litical subdivision thereof, or an agent, agen- Page 617 TITLE 18—CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE § 2386 cy, or instrumentality of a foreign govern- ment or political subdivision thereof, or a po- litical party in a foreign country, or an inter- national political organization; or (b) its policies, or any of them, are deter- mined by or at the suggestion of, or in collabo- ration with, a foreign government or political subdivision thereof, or an agent, agency, or in- strumentality of a foreign government or a po- litical subdivision thereof, or a political party in a foreign country, or an international polit- ical organization. (B)(1) The following organizations shall be re- quired to register with the Attorney General: Every organization subject to foreign control which engages in political activity; Every organization which engages both in ci- vilian military activity and in political activity; Every organization subject to foreign control which engages in civilian military activity; and Every organization, the purpose or aim of which, or one of the purposes or aims of which, is the establishment, control, conduct, seizure, or overthrow of a government or subdivision thereof by the use of force, violence, military measures, or threats of any one or more of the foregoing. Every such organization shall register by fil- ing with the Attorney General, on such forms and in such detail as the Attorney General may by rules and regulations prescribe, a registra- tion statement containing the information and documents prescribed in subsection (B)(3) and shall within thirty days after the expiration of each period of six months succeeding the filing of such registration statement, file with the At- torney General, on such forms and in such detail as the Attorney General may by rules and regu- lations prescribe, a supplemental statement con- taining such information and documents as may be necessary to make the information and docu- ments previously filed under this section accu- rate and current with respect to such preceding six months’ period. Every statement required to be filed by this section shall be subscribed, under oath, by all of the officers of the organiza- tion. (2) This section shall not require registration or the filing of any statement with the Attorney General by: (a) The armed forces of the United States; or (b) The organized militia or National Guard of any State, Territory, District, or possession of the United States; or (c) Any law-enforcement agency of the United States or of any Territory, District or posses- sion thereof, or of any State or political subdivi- sion of a State, or of any agency or instrumen- tality of one or more States; or (d) Any duly established diplomatic mission or consular office of a foreign government which is so recognized by the Department of State; or (e) Any nationally recognized organization of persons who are veterans of the armed forces of the United States, or affiliates of such organiza- tions. (3) Every registration statement required to be filed by any organization shall contain the following information and documents: (a) The name and post-office address of the or- ganization in the United States, and the names and addresses of all branches, chapters, and af- filiates of such organization; (b) The name, address, and nationality of each officer, and of each person who performs the functions of an officer, of the organization, and of each branch, chapter, and affiliate of the or- ganization; (c) The qualifications for membership in the organization; (d) The existing and proposed aims and pur- poses of the organization, and all the means by which these aims or purposes are being attained or are to be attained; (e) The address or addresses of meeting places of the organization, and of each branch, chapter, or affiliate of the organization, and the times of meetings; (f) The name and address of each person who has contributed any money, dues, property, or other thing of value to the organization or to any branch, chapter, or affiliate of the organiza- tion; (g) A detailed statement of the assets of the organization, and of each branch, chapter, and affiliate of the organization, the manner in which such assets were acquired, and a detailed statement of the liabilities and income of the organization and of each branch, chapter, and affiliate of the organization; (h) A detailed description of the activities of the organization, and of each chapter, branch, and affiliate of the organization; (i) A description of the uniforms, badges, in- signia, or other means of identification pre- scribed by the organization, and worn or carried by its officers or members, or any of such offi- cers or members; (j) A copy of each book, pamphlet, leaflet, or other publication or item of written, printed, or graphic matter issued or distributed directly or indirectly by the organization, or by any chap- ter, branch, or affiliate of the organization, or by any of the members of the organization under its authority or within its knowledge, together with the name of its author or authors and the name and address of the publisher; (k) A description of all firearms or other weap- ons owned by the organization, or by any chap- ter, branch, or affiliate of the organization, identified by the manufacturer’s number there- on; (l) In case the organization is subject to for- eign control, the manner in which it is so sub- ject; (m) A copy of the charter, articles of associa- tion, constitution, bylaws, rules, regulations, agreements, resolutions, and all other instru- ments relating to the organization, powers, and purposes of the organization and to the powers of the officers of the organization and of each chapter, branch, and affiliate of the organiza- tion; and (n) Such other information and documents pertinent to the purposes of this section as the Attorney General may from time to time re- quire. All statements filed under this section shall be public records and open to public examination and inspection at all reasonable hours under such rules and regulations as the Attorney Gen- eral may prescribe. Page 618 TITLE 18—CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE § 2387 (C) The Attorney General is authorized at any time to make, amend, and rescind such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section, including rules and regulations governing the statements required to be filed. (D) Whoever violates any of the provisions of this section shall be fined under this title or im- prisoned not more than five years, or both. Whoever in a statement filed pursuant to this section willfully makes any false statement or willfully omits to state any fact which is re- quired to be stated, or which is necessary to make the statements made not misleading, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 808; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(I), (L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 14–17 (Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 897, §§ 1–4, 54 Stat. 1201–1204). Section consolidates sections 14–17 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., as subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d), respectively, of this section, with necessary changes of phraseology and translation of section references. Words ‘‘upon conviction’’ which preceded ‘‘be sub- ject’’ were omitted as surplusage, as punishment can- not otherwise be imposed. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted ‘‘fined under this title’’ for ‘‘fined not more than $10,000’’ in penultimate par. and for ‘‘fined not more than $2,000’’ in last par. § 2387. Activities affecting armed forces generally (a) Whoever, with intent to interfere with, im- pair, or influence the loyalty, morale, or dis- cipline of the military or naval forces of the United States: (1) advises, counsels, urges, or in any manner causes or attempts to cause insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty by any member of the military or naval forces of the United States; or (2) distributes or attempts to distribute any written or printed matter which advises, coun- sels, or urges insubordination, disloyalty, mu- tiny, or refusal of duty by any member of the military or naval forces of the United States— Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction. (b) For the purposes of this section, the term ‘‘military or naval forces of the United States’’ includes the Army of the United States, the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve of the United States; and, when any merchant vessel is commissioned in the Navy or is in the service of the Army or the Navy, includes the master, officers, and crew of such vessel. (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 811; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 46, 63 Stat. 96; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title V, § 515(f)(2), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3236.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES 1948 ACT Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 9, 11, 13 (June 28, 1940, ch. 439, title I, §§ 1, 3, 5, 54 Stat. 670, 671). Section consolidates sections 9, 11, and 13 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., with only such changes of phraseology as were necessary to effect consolidation. The revised section extends the provisions so as to in- clude the Coast Guard Reserve in its coverage. Words ‘‘upon conviction thereof’’ were omitted as un- necessary, as punishment cannot be imposed until con- viction is secured. Reference to conspiracy to commit any of the prohib- ited acts was omitted as covered by the general law in- corporated in section 371 of this title. (See reviser’s note under that section.) Minor changes were made in arrangement and phrase- ology. 1949 ACT This section [section 46] inserts the words, ‘‘Air Force,’’ in subsection (b) of section 2387 of title 18, U.S.C., in view of the establishment in 1947 of this sepa- rate branch of the armed services. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2006—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–163 substituted ‘‘Navy Reserve’’ for ‘‘Naval Reserve’’. 1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted ‘‘fined under this title’’ for ‘‘fined not more than $10,000’’ in last par. 1949—Subsec. (b). Act May 24, 1949, made section ap- plicable to the Air Force. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relat- ing thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Secu- rity, and the Department of Homeland Security Reor- ganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6. Coast Guard transferred to Department of Transpor- tation and functions, powers, and duties, relating to Coast Guard, of Secretary of the Treasury and of other offices and officers of Department of the Treasury transferred to Secretary of Transportation by Pub. L. 89–670, Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 931, which created Depart- ment of Transportation. See section 108 of Title 49, Transportation. Executive Documents TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS Functions of all officers of Department of the Treas- ury and functions of all agencies and employees of such Department transferred, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Treasury, with power vested in him to authorize their performance or performance of any of his functions, by any of such officers, agencies, and em- ployees, by Reorg. Plan No. 26, of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. July 31, 1950, 15 F.R. 4935, 64 Stat. 1280, set out in the Appen- dix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employ- ees. Such plan excepted from transfer functions of Coast Guard and Commandant thereof when Coast Guard is operating as a part of the Navy under former sections 1 and 3 (now 101 and 103) of Title 14, Coast Guard. § 2388. Activities affecting armed forces during war (a) Whoever, when the United States is at war, willfully makes or conveys false reports or false