Title 15 — Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73
§47 Reference of suits under antitrust statutes to Commission
Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 2— - FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION; PROMOTION OF EXPORT TRADE AND PREVENTION OF UNFAIR METHODS OF COMPETITION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION › § 47
Summary
If the Attorney General brings an antitrust case and, after the testimony ends, the judge thinks the plaintiff should get relief, the judge may send the case to the Commission to act as a referee and recommend an order. The Commission must notify the parties, follow the court’s rules, and return a report the judge can accept in full, accept in part, or reject.
Full Legal Text
Title 15, §47
Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
In any suit in equity brought by or under the direction of the Attorney General as provided in the antitrust Acts, the court may, upon the conclusion of the testimony therein, if it shall be then of opinion that the complainant is entitled to relief, refer said suit to the Commission, as a master in chancery, to ascertain and report an appropriate form of decree therein. The Commission shall proceed upon such notice to the parties and under such rules of procedure as the court may prescribe, and upon the coming in of such report such exceptions may be filed and such proceedings had in relation thereto as upon the report of a master in other equity causes, but the court may adopt or reject such report, in whole or in part, and enter such decree as the nature of the case may in its judgment require.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The words “In any suit in equity brought by or under the direction of the Attorney General as provided in the antitrust Acts” have reference to actions under section 4, 9, and 25 of this title.
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
For
Transfer of Functions
of Federal Trade Commission, with certain exceptions, to Chairman of such Commission, see Reorg. Plan No. 8 of 1950, § 1, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3175, 64 Stat. 1264, set out under section 41 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
15 U.S.C. § 47
Title 15 — Commerce and Trade
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73