Title 31Money and FinanceRelease 119-73

§3327 General authority to issue checks and other drafts

Title 31 › Subtitle SUBTITLE III— - FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT › Chapter CHAPTER 33— - DEPOSITING, KEEPING, AND PAYING MONEY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - PAYMENTS › § 3327

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Treasury can pay the United States’ bills by issuing checks or other drafts from Treasury funds. The Secretary can also pick a bank or other depositary to make those payments from money it holds, and each depositary must report to the Secretary about public money it pays and receives. The Secretary must make sure Social Security account numbers, and any numbers based on them, cannot be seen through unopened mailed checks or drafts.

Full Legal Text

Title 31, §3327

Money and Finance — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of the Treasury may issue a check or other draft on public money in the Treasury to pay an obligation of the United States Government. When the Secretary decides it is convenient to a public creditor and in the public interest, the Secretary may designate a depositary to issue a check or other draft on public money held by the depositary to pay an obligation of the Government. As directed by the Secretary, each depositary shall report to the Secretary on public money paid and received by the depositary.
(b)The Secretary of the Treasury shall take such actions as are necessary to ensure that Social Security account numbers (including derivatives of such numbers) are not visible on or through unopened mailings of checks or other drafts described in subsection (a) of this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 332731:526.R.S. § 3644. The words “Secretary of the Treasury” are substituted for “Treasurer” because of the source provisions restated in section 321(c) of the revised title. The words “may issue a check or other draft” are substituted for “shall be subject to the draft of” for consistency in the revised title. The words “public money” are substituted for “moneys” because section 10 of the Act of August 6, 1846 (ch. 90, 9 Stat. 61), from which section 3644 of the Revised Statutes is derived, used the term “public money”. The words “obligation of the United States Government” are substituted for “on the public account”, and the words “may designate a depositary to issue a check or draft on public money held by the depositary to pay an obligation of the Government” are substituted for “is authorized to draw upon any of the depositaries” for clarity and consistency. The words “at such times and in such forms . . . shall be” are omitted as surplus. The words “United States Postal Service” and “Postmaster General” are omitted because of 39:410. The words “report to the Secretary on public money paid and received by the depositary” are substituted for “so drawn upon shall make returns to the Treasury Department” for clarity and consistency.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2000—Pub. L. 106–433 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2000 Amendment and Transitional Rule Pub. L. 106–433, § 3, Nov. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 1910, provided that: “(a) In General.—The

Amendments

made by this Act [amending this section] shall apply with respect to all mailings of checks or other drafts issued on or after the date which is 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 6, 2000]. “(b) Phase-in of

Amendments

.—Effective on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall commence procedures to gradually implement the

Amendments

made by this Act in advance of the

Effective Date

described in subsection (a). Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for each of the next 2 years, the Secretary shall transmit to each House of the Congress a report describing the manner and extent to which the requirements of the preceding sentence have been carried out.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

31 U.S.C. § 3327

Title 31Money and Finance

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73