Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73not60
§435 Contracts in Excess of Specific Appropriation
Title 18 › Part I— CRIMES › Chapter 23— CONTRACTS › § 435
Summary
If a U.S. officer or employee knowingly agrees to spend more than the specific money set aside for building, repairing, or furnishing a public building, or for any public improvement, they commit a crime. They must be fined under this law, imprisoned for up to one year, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §435
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, being an officer or employee of the United States, knowingly contracts for the erection, repair, or furnishing of any public building, or for any public improvement, to pay a larger amount than the specific sum appropriated for such purpose, shall be fined under this title 11 See 1994 Amendment note below. or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 184 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 98, 35 Stat. 1106). Words “or employee” were inserted to remove any ambiguity as to scope of section. The offense described in this section involves no moral turpitude, and therefore the punishment provisions were reduced from $2,000 to $1,000 and from 2 years to 1 year, so that the stigma of a felony would not attach to an offender. (See classification of felony and misdemeanor in section 1 of this title and note thereunder.) Mandatory punishment provisions were rephrased in the alternative. Changes were also made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322, which directed the amendment of this section by substituting “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”, was executed by making the substitution for “fined not more than $1,000”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 435
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60