Title 18Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73

§11 Foreign government defined

Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 11

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §11

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The term “foreign government”, as used in this title except in section 112, 878, 970, 1116, and 1201, includes any government, faction, or body of insurgents within a country with which the United States is at peace, irrespective of recognition by the United States.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 98, 288, 349; section 235 of title 22 U.S.C., 1940 ed., Foreign Relations and Intercourse; section 41 of title 50, U.S.C., 1940 ed., War and National Defense (
June 15, 1917, ch. 30, title VIII, § 4, 40 Stat. 226). The definition of “foreign government” contained in this section, with minor changes in phraseology, is from section 4 of title VIII of act
June 15, 1917 (Ch. 30, 40 Stat. 217, 226), known as the Espionage Act of 1917. This definition was incorporated in section 98, 288, and 349 of title 18 and in section 235 of title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, and in section 41 of Title 50, War and National Defense, U.S.C., all in 1940 ed., since the definition was specifically enacted with reference to said sections and others not material here. The remaining provisions of said section 98 and 349 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., which were derived from sources other than said section 4 of title VIII of the act of
June 15, 1917, are incorporated in section 502 and 957 of this title.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1976—Pub. L. 94–467 inserted “except in section 112, 878, 970, 1116, and 1201” after “title”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 11

Title 18Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73