44 U.S.C. § 1502 — Custody and publishing of Federal docu-

Page 54 TITLE 44—PUBLIC PRINTING AND DOCUMENTS § 1501 Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries FEDERAL RECORDS MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS WITHOUT EFFECT ON CHAPTER Authority and responsibilities under chapter not lim- ited or repealed by Federal Records Management Amendments of 1976, see section 5(b) of Pub. L. 94–575, set out as a note under section 2901 of this title. § 1501. Definitions As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires— ‘‘document’’ means a Presidential proclama- tion or Executive order and an order, regula- tion, rule, certificate, code of fair competi- tion, license, notice, or similar instrument, issued, prescribed, or promulgated by a Fed- eral agency; ‘‘Federal agency’’ or ‘‘agency’’ means the President of the United States, or an execu- tive department, independent board, establish- ment, bureau, agency, institution, commis- sion, or separate office of the administrative branch of the Government of the United States but not the legislative or judicial branches of the Government; ‘‘person’’ means an individual, partnership, association, or corporation; ‘‘publish’’ means to circulate for sale or dis- tribution to the public, as determined by the Administrative Committee of the Federal Reg- ister; and ‘‘National Archives of the United States’’ has the same meaning as in section 2901(11) of this title. (Pub. L. 90–620, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1273; Pub. L. 98–497, title I, § 107(b)(2), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2286; Pub. L. 118–267, § 2(b), Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2983.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on 44 U.S. Code, 1964 ed., § 304 (July 26, 1935, ch. 417, § 4, 49 Stat. 501). Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2025—Pub. L. 118–267 inserted definition of ‘‘publish’’. 1984—Pub. L. 98–497 inserted definition of ‘‘National Archives of the United States’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1984 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 98–497 effective Apr. 1, 1985, see section 301 of Pub. L. 98–497, set out as a note under section 2102 of this title. § 1502. Custody and publishing of Federal docu- ments; appointment of Director The Archivist of the United States, acting through the Office of the Federal Register, is charged with the custody and, together with the Director of the Government Publishing Office, with the prompt and uniform publishing of the documents required or authorized to be pub- lished by section 1505 of this title. There shall be at the head of the Office a director, appointed by, and who shall act under the general direc- tion of, the Archivist of the United States in carrying out this chapter and the regulations prescribed under it. (Pub. L. 90–620, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1273; Pub. L. 98–497, title I, § 107(b)(3), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2287; Pub. L. 113–235, div. H, title I, § 1301(c)(1), Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2537; Pub. L. 118–267, § 2(a)(1), Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2983.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on 44 U.S. Code, 1964 ed., § 301 (July 26, 1935, ch. 417, § 1, 49 Stat. 500; 1939 Reorg. Plan No. II, § 202, eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2732, 53 Stat. 1435; June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title I, § 104(a), 63 Stat. 381). Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2025—Pub. L. 118–267 substituted ‘‘publishing’’ for ‘‘printing’’ in section catchline and ‘‘publishing’’ for ‘‘printing and distribution’’ in text. 2014—Pub. L. 113–235 substituted ‘‘Director of the Government Publishing Office’’ for ‘‘Public Printer’’. 1984—Pub. L. 98–497 substituted ‘‘Archivist of the United States’’ for ‘‘Administrator of General Serv- ices’’ wherever appearing. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1984 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 98–497 effective Apr. 1, 1985, see section 301 of Pub. L. 98–497, set out as a note under section 2102 of this title. § 1503. Filing documents with Office; notation of time; public inspection; transmission for pub- lishing The original document required or authorized to be published by section 1505 shall be filed with the Office of the Federal Register for publi- cation at times established by the Administra- tive Committee of the Federal Register by regu- lation. The Archivist of the United States shall cause to be noted on the original of each docu- ment the day and hour of filing. Upon filing, the document shall be immediately available for public inspection. The original shall be retained by the National Archives and Records Adminis- tration and shall be available for inspection under regulations prescribed by the Archivist, unless such original is disposed of in accordance with disposal schedules submitted by the Ad- ministrative Committee and authorized by the Archivist pursuant to regulations issued under chapter 33; however, originals of proclamations of the President and Executive orders shall be permanently retained by the Administration as part of the National Archives of the United States. The Office shall transmit to the Govern- ment Publishing Office, as provided by this chapter, each document required or authorized to be published by section 1505. Every Federal agency shall cause to be transmitted for filing the original of all such documents issued, pre- scribed, or promulgated by the agency. (Pub. L. 90–620, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1274; Pub. L. 95–440, § 2, Oct. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 1063; Pub. L. 98–497, title I, § 107(b)(4), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2287; Pub. L. 113–235, div. H, title I, § 1301(b), Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2537; Pub. L. 118–267, § 2(c), Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2983.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on 44 U.S. Code, 1964 ed., § 302 (July 26, 1935, ch. 417, § 2, 49 Stat. 500; June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title I, § 104(a), 63 Stat. 381).