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119th Congress

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119th Congress

Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Part I · Chapter 33 — Emblems, Insignia, and Names

§ 713. Use of likenesses of the great seal of the United States, the seals of the President and Vice President, the seal of the United States Senate, the seal of the United States House of Representatives, and the seal of the United States Congress

Statutory text

(a)

Whoever knowingly displays any printed or other likeness of the great seal of the United States, or of the seals of the President or the Vice President of the United States, or the seal of the United States Senate, or the seal of the United States House of Representatives, or the seal of the United States Congress, or any facsimile thereof, in, or in connection with, any advertisement, poster, circular, book, pamphlet, or other publication, public meeting, play, motion picture, telecast, or other production, or on any building, monument, or stationery, for the purpose of conveying, or in a manner reasonably calculated to convey, a false impression of sponsorship or approval by the Government of the United States or by any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

(b)

Whoever, except as authorized under regulations promulgated by the President and published in the Federal Register, knowingly manufactures, reproduces, sells, or purchases for resale, either separately or appended to any article manufactured or sold, any likeness of the seals of the President or Vice President, or any substantial part thereof, except for manufacture or sale of the article for the official use of the Government of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

(c)

Whoever, except as directed by the United States Senate, or the Secretary of the Senate on its behalf, knowingly uses, manufactures, reproduces, sells or purchases for resale, either separately or appended to any article manufactured or sold, any likeness of the seal of the United States Senate, or any substantial part thereof, except for manufacture or sale of the article for the official use of the Government of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

(d)

Whoever, except as directed by the United States House of Representatives, or the Clerk of the House of Representatives on its behalf, knowingly uses, manufactures, reproduces, sells or purchases for resale, either separately or appended to any article manufactured or sold, any likeness of the seal of the United States House of Representatives, or any substantial part thereof, except for manufacture or sale of the article for the official use of the Government of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

(e)

Whoever, except as directed by the United States Congress, or the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, acting jointly on its behalf, knowingly uses, manufactures, reproduces, sells or purchases for resale, either separately or appended to any article manufactured or sold, any likeness of the seal of the United States Congress, or any substantial part thereof, except for manufacture or sale of the article for the official use of the Government of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

(f)

A violation of the provisions of this section may be enjoined at the suit of the Attorney General,

(1)

in the case of the great seal of the United States and the seals of the President and Vice President, upon complaint by any authorized representative of any department or agency of the United States;

(2)

in the case of the seal of the United States Senate, upon complaint by the Secretary of the Senate;

(3)

in the case of the seal of the United States House of Representatives, upon complaint by the Clerk of the House of Representatives; and

(4)

in the case of the seal of the United States Congress, upon complaint by the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, acting jointly.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

  1. Pub. L. 89–807 § 1(a) · 80 Stat. 1525

    Enacted · 18 U.S.C. § 713

    Added Pub. L. 89–807, § 1(a), Nov. 11, 1966, 80 Stat. 1525

    Source evidence

    Code source credit
    Added Pub. L. 89–807, § 1(a), Nov. 11, 1966, 80 Stat. 1525

  2. Pub. L. 91–651 § 1 · 84 Stat. 1940

    Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 713

    Pub. L. 91–651 substituted “Use of likenesses of the great seal of the United States, and of the seals of the President and Vice President” for “Use of the great seal of the United States” in section catchline

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 91–651 substituted “Use of likenesses of the great seal of the United States, and of the seals of the President and Vice President” for “Use of the great seal of the United States” in section catchline.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (1) by adding the following clause after the second clause thereof: “protect the person of a visiting head of a foreign state or foreign government and, at the direction of the President, other distinguished foreign visitors to the United States and official representatives of the United States performing special missions abroad;” and

    Effective date note
    Pub. L. 91–651, § 3, Jan. 5, 1971, 84 Stat. 1941, provided that: “The amendments made by this Act [amending this section] shall not make unlawful any preexisting use of the design of the great seal of the United States or of the seals of the President or Vice President of the United States that was lawful on the date of enactment of this Act [Jan. 5, 1971], until one year after the date of such enactment.”

  3. Pub. L. 91–651 § 1 · 84 Stat. 1940

    1. Redesignated · 18 U.S.C. § 713(a)

      Pub. L. 91–651 redesignated existing provisions as subsec. (a), expanded prohibition to include likenesses of the seals of the President and Vice President

    2. Added · 18 U.S.C. § 713(a)

      Pub. L. 91–651 added to the enumerated list of prohibited uses for likenesses of the great seal of the United States and for the seals of the President and Vice President, use in posters, public meetings, or on any building, monument, or stationery

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 91–651 redesignated existing provisions as subsec. (a), expanded prohibition to include likenesses of the seals of the President and Vice President, and added to the enumerated list of prohibited uses for likenesses of the great seal of the United States and for the seals of the President and Vice President, use in posters, public meetings, or on any building, monument, or stationery.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (1) by adding the following clause after the second clause thereof: “protect the person of a visiting head of a foreign state or foreign government and, at the direction of the President, other distinguished foreign visitors to the United States and official representatives of the United States performing special missions abroad;” and

    Effective date note
    Pub. L. 91–651, § 3, Jan. 5, 1971, 84 Stat. 1941, provided that: “The amendments made by this Act [amending this section] shall not make unlawful any preexisting use of the design of the great seal of the United States or of the seals of the President or Vice President of the United States that was lawful on the date of enactment of this Act [Jan. 5, 1971], until one year after the date of such enactment.”

  4. Pub. L. 91–651 § 1 · 84 Stat. 1940

    Added · 18 U.S.C. § 713(b); 18 U.S.C. § 713(c)

    Pub. L. 91–651 added subsecs. (b) and (c)

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 91–651 added subsecs. (b) and (c).

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (1) by adding the following clause after the second clause thereof: “protect the person of a visiting head of a foreign state or foreign government and, at the direction of the President, other distinguished foreign visitors to the United States and official representatives of the United States performing special missions abroad;” and

    Effective date note
    Pub. L. 91–651, § 3, Jan. 5, 1971, 84 Stat. 1941, provided that: “The amendments made by this Act [amending this section] shall not make unlawful any preexisting use of the design of the great seal of the United States or of the seals of the President or Vice President of the United States that was lawful on the date of enactment of this Act [Jan. 5, 1971], until one year after the date of such enactment.”

  5. Pub. L. 102–229 § 210(a) · 105 Stat. 1701

    Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 713

    Pub. L. 102–229, § 210(a), substituted “the seals of the President and Vice President, and the seal of the United States Senate” for “and of the seals of the President and Vice President” in section catchline

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 102–229, § 210(a), substituted “the seals of the President and Vice President, and the seal of the United States Senate” for “and of the seals of the President and Vice President” in section catchline.

  6. Pub. L. 102–229 § 210(b) · 105 Stat. 1701

    Inserted · 18 U.S.C. § 713(a)

    Pub. L. 102–229, § 210(b), inserted “or the seal of the United States Senate,” after “Vice President of the United States,”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–229, § 210(b), inserted “or the seal of the United States Senate,” after “Vice President of the United States,”.

  7. Pub. L. 102–229 § 210(c) · 105 Stat. 1701

    1. Added · 18 U.S.C. § 713(c); 18 U.S.C. § 713(d)

      Pub. L. 102–229, § 210(c), (d), added subsec. (c)

    2. Amended · 18 U.S.C. § 713(c); 18 U.S.C. § 713(d)

      Pub. L. 102–229, § 210(c), (d), amended former subsec. (c) generally

    3. Redesignated · 18 U.S.C. § 713(c); 18 U.S.C. § 713(d)

      Pub. L. 102–229, § 210(c), (d), redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d). Prior to amendment and redesignation, former subsec. (c) read as follows: “A violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section may be enjoined at the suit of the Attorney General upon complaint by any authorized representative of any department or agency of the United States.”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 102–229, § 210(c), (d), added subsec. (c), amended former subsec. (c) generally, and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d). Prior to amendment and redesignation, former subsec. (c) read as follows: “A violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section may be enjoined at the suit of the Attorney General upon complaint by any authorized representative of any department or agency of the United States.”

  8. Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994

    Pub. L. 103–322 title XXXIII § 330016(1)(E) · 108 Stat. 1796

    Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 713(a)(c)

    Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $250”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsecs. (a) to (c). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $250”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (E) in sections 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, 706, 707, 708, 710, 711, 711a, 713, 715, 1164, and 1858 by striking “not more than $250” each place it appears and inserting “under this title”;

  9. Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1998

    Pub. L. 105–55 § 308(d) · 111 Stat. 1177

    Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 713

    Pub. L. 105–55, § 308(d), substituted “the seal of the United States Senate, the seal of the United States House of Representatives, and the seal of the United States Congress” for “and the seal of the United States Senate” in section catchline

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 105–55, § 308(d), substituted “the seal of the United States Senate, the seal of the United States House of Representatives, and the seal of the United States Congress” for “and the seal of the United States Senate” in section catchline.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (d) The heading of section 713 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking “and the seal of the United States Senate” and inserting the following: “the seal of the United States Senate, the seal of the United States House of Representatives, and the seal of the United States Congress”.

  10. Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1998

    Pub. L. 105–55 § 308(a) · 111 Stat. 1177

    Inserted · 18 U.S.C. § 713(a)

    Pub. L. 105–55, § 308(a), inserted “or the seal of the United States House of Representatives, or the seal of the United States Congress,” after “Senate,”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–55, § 308(a), inserted “or the seal of the United States House of Representatives, or the seal of the United States Congress,” after “Senate,”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (a) Section 713(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after “Senate,” the following: “or the seal of the United States House of Representatives, or the seal of the United States Congress,”.

  11. Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1998

    Pub. L. 105–55 § 308(b) · 111 Stat. 1177

    Redesignated · 18 U.S.C. § 713(d); 18 U.S.C. § 713(e)

    Pub. L. 105–55, § 308(b), added subsecs. (d) and (e). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (f)

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 105–55, § 308(b), added subsecs. (d) and (e). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (f).

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (b) Section 713 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (f); and (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsections: “(d) Whoever, except as directed by the United States House of Representatives, or the Clerk of the House of Representatives on its behalf, knowingly uses, manufactures, reproduces, sells or purchases for resale, either separately or appended to any article manufactured or sold, any likeness of the seal of the United States House of Representatives, or any substantial part thereof, except for manufacture or sale of the article for the official use of the Government of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. “(e) Whoever, except as directed by the United States Congress, or the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, acting jointly on its behalf, knowingly uses, manufactures, reproduces, sells or purchases for resale, either separately or appended to any article manufactured or sold, any likeness of the seal of the United States Congress, or any substantial part thereof, except for manufacture or sale of the article for the official use of the Government of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.”.

  12. Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1998

    Pub. L. 105–55 § 308(b)(1) · 111 Stat. 1177

    Redesignated · 18 U.S.C. § 713(f)

    Pub. L. 105–55, § 308(b)(1), redesignated subsec. (d) as (f)

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 105–55, § 308(b)(1), redesignated subsec. (d) as (f).

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (b) Section 713 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (f); and (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsections: “(d) Whoever, except as directed by the United States House of Representatives, or the Clerk of the House of Representatives on its behalf, knowingly uses, manufactures, reproduces, sells or purchases for resale, either separately or appended to any article manufactured or sold, any likeness of the seal of the United States House of Representatives, or any substantial part thereof, except for manufacture or sale of the article for the official use of the Government of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. “(e) Whoever, except as directed by the United States Congress, or the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, acting jointly on its behalf, knowingly uses, manufactures, reproduces, sells or purchases for resale, either separately or appended to any article manufactured or sold, any likeness of the seal of the United States Congress, or any substantial part thereof, except for manufacture or sale of the article for the official use of the Government of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.”.

  13. Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1998

    Pub. L. 105–55 § 308(c) · 111 Stat. 1177

    Added · 18 U.S.C. § 713(f)(3); 18 U.S.C. § 713(f)(4)

    Pub. L. 105–55, § 308(c), added pars. (3) and (4)

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (f)(3), (4). Pub. L. 105–55, § 308(c), added pars. (3) and (4).

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (c) Section 713(f) of title 18, United States Code (as redesignated by subsection (b)(1)), is amended— (1) by striking “and” at the end of paragraph (1); (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: “(3) in the case of the seal of the United States House of Representatives, upon complaint by the Clerk of the House of Representatives; and “(4) in the case of the seal of the United States Congress, upon complaint by the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, acting jointly.”.

10 of 16 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 6 partial

Editorial Notes

Amendments1971–1997 · 4 rounds

1997

Pub. L. 105–55, § 308(d), substituted “the seal of the United States Senate, the seal of the United States House of Representatives, and the seal of the United States Congress” for “and the seal of the United States Senate” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–55, § 308(a), inserted “or the seal of the United States House of Representatives, or the seal of the United States Congress,” after “Senate,”.

Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 105–55, § 308(b), added subsecs. (d) and (e). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (f).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 105–55, § 308(b)(1), redesignated subsec. (d) as (f).

Subsec. (f)(3), (4). Pub. L. 105–55, § 308(c), added pars. (3) and (4).

1994

Subsecs. (a) to (c). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $250”.

1991

Pub. L. 102–229, § 210(a), substituted “the seals of the President and Vice President, and the seal of the United States Senate” for “and of the seals of the President and Vice President” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–229, § 210(b), inserted “or the seal of the United States Senate,” after “Vice President of the United States,”.

Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 102–229, § 210(c), (d), added subsec. (c), amended former subsec. (c) generally, and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d). Prior to amendment and redesignation, former subsec. (c) read as follows: “A violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section may be enjoined at the suit of the Attorney General upon complaint by any authorized representative of any department or agency of the United States.”

1971

Pub. L. 91–651 substituted “Use of likenesses of the great seal of the United States, and of the seals of the President and Vice President” for “Use of the great seal of the United States” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 91–651 redesignated existing provisions as subsec. (a), expanded prohibition to include likenesses of the seals of the President and Vice President, and added to the enumerated list of prohibited uses for likenesses of the great seal of the United States and for the seals of the President and Vice President, use in posters, public meetings, or on any building, monument, or stationery.

Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 91–651 added subsecs. (b) and (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1971 Amendment

Pub. L. 91–651, § 3, , 84 Stat. 1941, provided that: “The amendments made by this Act [amending this section] shall not make unlawful any preexisting use of the design of the great seal of the United States or of the seals of the President or Vice President of the United States that was lawful on the date of enactment of this Act [], until one year after the date of such enactment.”

Executive Documents

Ex. Ord. No. 11649. Regulations Governing Seals of President and Vice President of United States

Ex. Ord. No. 11649, , 37 F.R. 3625, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 11916, , 41 F.R. 22031, provided:

By virtue to the authority vested in me by section 713(b) of title 18, United States Code, I hereby prescribe the following regulations governing the use of the Seals of the President and the Vice President of the United States:

Section 1. Except as otherwise provided by law, the knowing manufacture, reproduction, sale, or purchase for resale of the Seals or Coats of Arms of the President or the Vice President of the United States, or any likeness or substantial part thereof, shall be permitted only for the following uses:

(a) Use by the President or Vice President of the United States;

(b) Use in encyclopedias, dictionaries, books, journals, pamphlets, periodicals, or magazines incident to a description or history of seals, coats of arms, heraldry, or the Presidency or Vice Presidency;

(c) Use in libraries, museums, or educational facilities incident to descriptions or exhibits relating to seals, coats of arms, heraldry, or the Presidency or Vice Presidency;

(d) Use as an architectural embellishment in libraries, museums, or archives established to house the papers or effects of former Presidents or Vice Presidents;

(e) Use on a monument to a former President or Vice President;

(f) Use by way of photographic or electronic visual reproduction in pictures, moving pictures, or telecasts of bona fide news content;

(g) Such other uses for exceptional historical, educational, or newsworthy purposes as may be authorized in writing by the Counsel to the President.

Sec. 2. The manufacture, reproduction, sale, or purchase for resale, either separately or appended to any article manufactured or sold, of the Seals of the President or Vice President, or any likeness or substantial part thereof, except as provided in this Order or as otherwise provided by law, is prohibited.

Richard Nixon.

Credits

1966–1997 · 5 acts
  1. 1966Added Pub. L. 89–807, § 1(a), , 80 Stat. 1525
  2. 1971amended Pub. L. 91–651, § 1, , 84 Stat. 1940
  3. 1991Pub. L. 102–229, title II, § 210(a)–(d), , 105 Stat. 1717
  4. 1994Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(E), , 108 Stat. 2146
  5. 1997Pub. L. 105–55, title III, § 308(a)–(d), , 111 Stat. 1198.
Show as published

(Added Pub. L. 89–807, § 1(a), , 80 Stat. 1525; amended Pub. L. 91–651, § 1, , 84 Stat. 1940; Pub. L. 102–229, title II, § 210(a)–(d), , 105 Stat. 1717; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(E), , 108 Stat. 2146; Pub. L. 105–55, title III, § 308(a)–(d), , 111 Stat. 1198.)

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