Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Chapter 89 — Advancing Democratic Values
§ 8202. Statement of policy
Statutory text
It is the policy of the United States—
to promote freedom and democracy in foreign countries as a fundamental component of United States foreign policy, along with other key foreign policy goals;
to affirm fundamental freedoms and internationally recognized human rights in foreign countries, as reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and to condemn offenses against those freedoms and rights as a fundamental component of United States foreign policy, along with other key foreign policy goals;
to protect and promote such fundamental freedoms and rights, including the freedoms of association, of expression, of the press, and of religion, and the right to own private property;
to commit to the long-term challenge of promoting universal democracy by promoting democratic institutions, including institutions that support the rule of law (such as an independent judiciary), an independent and professional media, strong legislatures, a thriving civil society, transparent and professional independent governmental auditing agencies, civilian control of the military, and institutions that promote the rights of minorities and women;
to use instruments of United States influence to support, promote, and strengthen democratic principles, practices, and values, including the right to free, fair, and open elections, secret balloting, and universal suffrage, including by—
providing appropriate support to individuals, nongovernmental organizations, and movements located in nondemocratic countries that aspire to live in freedom and establish full democracy in such countries; and
providing political, economic, and other support to foreign countries and individuals, nongovernmental organizations, and movements that are willingly undertaking a transition to democracy; and
to strengthen cooperation with other democratic countries in order to better promote and defend shared values and ideals.
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.
Advance Democratic Values, Address Nondemocratic Countries, and Enhance Democracy Act of 2007
Pub. L. 110–53 title XXI § 2103 · 121 Stat. 266
Enacted · 22 U.S.C. § 8202
(Pub. L. 110–53, title XXI, § 2103, Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 527.)
Source evidence
Code source credit
(Pub. L. 110–53, title XXI, § 2103, Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 527.)Enacted provision · exact public law section
SEC. 2103. STATEMENT OF POLICY. It is the policy of the United States— (1) to promote freedom and democracy in foreign countries as a fundamental component of United States foreign policy, along with other key foreign policy goals; (2) to affirm fundamental freedoms and internationally recognized human rights in foreign countries, as reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and to condemn offenses against those freedoms and rights as a fundamental component of United States foreign policy, along with other key foreign policy goals; (3) to protect and promote such fundamental freedoms and rights, including the freedoms of association, of expression, of the press, and of religion, and the right to own private property; (4) to commit to the long-term challenge of promoting universal democracy by promoting democratic institutions, including institutions that support the rule of law (such as an independent judiciary), an independent and professional media, strong legislatures, a thriving civil society, transparent and professional independent governmental auditing agencies, civilian control of the military, and institutions that promote the rights of minorities and women; (5) to use instruments of United States influence to support, promote, and strengthen democratic principles, practices, and values, including the right to free, fair, and open elections, secret balloting, and universal suffrage, including by— (A) providing appropriate support to individuals, nongovernmental organizations, and movements located in nondemocratic countries that aspire to live in freedom and establish full democracy in such countries; and (B) providing political, economic, and other support to foreign countries and individuals, nongovernmental organizations, and movements that are willingly undertaking a transition to democracy; and (6) to strengthen cooperation with other democratic countries in order to better promote and defend shared values and ideals.
1 of 1 references resolved to an enrolled provision