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Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73

§456 Definitions

Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 9— - FOREIGN WARS, WAR MATERIALS, AND NEUTRALITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - NEUTRALITY › § 456

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words used in this part. United States (geographic): the States and Territories, insular possessions, the Canal Zone, and the District of Columbia. Person: a natural person or a business entity. Vessel: any watercraft or aircraft usable on, under, or over water. American vessel: a documented vessel or an aircraft registered/licensed under U.S. law. State: nation, government, or country. Citizen: people owing allegiance to the U.S., business entities of U.S. citizens, and corporations organized under U.S. law (see subsection (a)).

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §456

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

For the purposes of this subchapter—
(a)The term “United States”, when used in a geographical sense, includes the several States and Territories, the insular possessions of the United States, the Canal Zone, and the District of Columbia.
(b)The term “person” includes a partnership, company, association, or corporation, as well as a natural person.
(c)The term “vessel” means every description of watercraft and aircraft capable of being used as a means of transportation on, under, or over water.
(d)The term “American vessel” means any vessel documented, and any aircraft registered or licensed, under the laws of the United States.
(e)The term “state” shall include nation, government, and country.
(f)The term “citizen” shall include any individual owing allegiance to the United States, a partnership, company, or association composed in whole or in part of citizens of the United States, and any corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States as defined in subsection (a) of this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

For definition of Canal Zone, referred to in subsec. (a), see section 3602(b) of this title. Codification Words “(including the Philippine Islands)” omitted from definition of “United States” in subsec. (a) pursuant to the authority of Proc. No. 2695, which granted independence to the Philippines under the provisions of section 1394 of this title, and which is set out as a note under section 1394.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 456

Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73