Title 15 — Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73
§78j Manipulative and deceptive devices
Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 2B— - SECURITIES EXCHANGES › § 78j
Summary
Bars anyone from using the mail, interstate commerce, or a national exchange to do short sales or to place stop-loss orders on securities that are not government bonds if those actions break rules the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) makes to protect investors and the public. That short-sale rule does not apply to security futures products. It also bans using any manipulative or deceptive act when buying or selling exchange-listed or unlisted securities, or securities-based swaps, if that breaks SEC rules. Also bans making, accepting, or helping deals to lend or borrow securities when those deals violate SEC rules. This does not stop federal bank regulators, the National Credit Union Administration, or other federal agencies from making their own rules to protect a bank’s safety or to prevent system-wide risk.
Full Legal Text
Title 15, §78j
Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
It shall be unlawful for any person, directly or indirectly, by the use of any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce or of the mails, or of any facility of any national securities exchange—
(a)(1)To effect a short sale, or to use or employ any stop-loss order in connection with the purchase or sale, of any security other than a government security, in contravention of such rules and regulations as the Commission may prescribe as necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors.
(2)Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply to security futures products.
(b)To use or employ, in connection with the purchase or sale of any security registered on a national securities exchange or any security not so registered, or any securities-based swap agreement 11 So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma. any manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance in contravention of such rules and regulations as the Commission may prescribe as necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors.
(c)(1)To effect, accept, or facilitate a transaction involving the loan or borrowing of securities in contravention of such rules and regulations as the Commission may prescribe as necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors.
(2)Nothing in paragraph (1) may be construed to limit the authority of the appropriate Federal banking agency (as defined in section 1813(q) of title 12), the National Credit Union Administration, or any other Federal department or agency having a responsibility under Federal law to prescribe rules or regulations restricting transactions involving the loan or borrowing of securities in order to protect the safety and soundness of a financial institution or to protect the financial system from systemic risk.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2010—Pub. L. 111–203, § 762(d)(3)(B), which directed amendment of the matter following subsection (b) “by striking ‘(as defined in section 206B of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act), in each place that such terms appear’ ”, was executed by striking out “(as defined in section 206B of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act)” after “security-based swap agreements” in two places in concluding provisions following subsec. (c) to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 111–203, § 929L(2), substituted “other than a government security” for “registered on a national securities exchange”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–203, § 762(d)(3)(A), struck out “(as defined in section 206B of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act),” after “securities-based swap agreement”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–203, § 984(a), which directed amendment of this section by adding subsec. (c) at the end, was executed by adding subsec. (c) after subsec. (b) to reflect the probable intent of Congress. 2000—Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title III, § 303(d)(2)], inserted concluding provisions at end. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title II, § 206(g)], designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2). Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title III, § 303(d)(1)], inserted “or any securities-based swap agreement (as defined in section 206B of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act),” before “any manipulative or deceptive device”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2010 AmendmentAmendment by section 929L(2) and 984(a) of Pub. L. 111–203 effective 1 day after July 21, 2010, except as otherwise provided, see section 4 of Pub. L. 111–203, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 5301 Title 12, Banks and Banking. Amendment by section 762(d)(3) of Pub. L. 111–203 effective on the later of 360 days after July 21, 2010, or, to the extent a provision of subtitle B (§§ 761–774) of title VII of Pub. L. 111–203 requires a rulemaking, not less than 60 days after publication of the final rule or regulation implementing such provision of subtitle B, see section 774 of Pub. L. 111–203, set out as a note under section 77b of this title.
Regulations
Pub. L. 111–203, title IX, § 984(b),
July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1933, provided that: “Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act [
July 21, 2010], the Commission shall promulgate rules that are designed to increase the transparency of information available to brokers, dealers, and investors, with respect to the loan or borrowing of securities.” [For definitions of terms used in section 984(b) of Pub. L. 111–203, set out above, see section 5301 of Title 12, Banks and Banking.] Prohibition of Insider Trading Pub. L. 112–105, § 4(a), Apr. 4, 2012, 126 Stat. 292, provided that: “Members of Congress and employees of Congress are not exempt from the insider trading prohibitions arising under the securities laws, including section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [15 U.S.C. 78j(b)] and Rule 10b–5 thereunder.” [For definitions of “Member of Congress” and “employee of Congress”, see section 2 of Pub. L. 112–105, set out as a Definitions note under section 13101 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.] Application of Insider Trading Laws Pub. L. 112–105, § 9(b)(1), Apr. 4, 2012, 126 Stat. 297, provided that: “Executive branch employees, judicial officers, and judicial employees are not exempt from the insider trading prohibitions arising under the securities laws, including section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [15 U.S.C. 78j(b)] and Rule 10b–5 thereunder.” [For definitions of “executive branch employees”, “judicial officers”, and “judicial employees”, see section 2 of Pub. L. 112–105, set out as a Definitions note under section 13101 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.]
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
For
Transfer of Functions
of Securities and Exchange Commission, with certain exceptions, to Chairman of such Commission, see Reorg. Plan No. 10 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3175, 64 Stat. 1265, set out under section 78d of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
15 U.S.C. § 78j
Title 15 — Commerce and Trade
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73