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Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-110

§4351 General Authority and Contents of Publication

Title 22 › CHAPTER 53B — FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES HISTORICAL SERIES › § 4351

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Department of State must publish the "Foreign Relations of the United States" (FRUS) series as a full, accurate record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions and important diplomatic actions. Each volume must include the records needed to show how decisions were made, including facts that shaped policy and documents that show supporting or alternative views. Editors must be objective, may not change records, and must note any deletions in the text. They must not leave out major facts or remove items to hide policy problems. The series must be published within 30 years of the events.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §4351

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Charter of publication
The Department of State shall continue to publish the “Foreign Relations of the United States historical series” (hereafter in this chapter referred to as the “FRUS series”), which shall be a thorough, accurate, and reliable documentary record of major United States foreign policy decisions and significant United States diplomatic activity. Volumes of this publication shall include all records needed to provide a comprehensive documentation of the major foreign policy decisions and actions of the United States Government, including the facts which contributed to the formulation of policies and records providing supporting and alternative views to the policy position ultimately adopted.
(b)Editing principles
The editing of records for preparation of the FRUS series shall be guided by the principles of historical objectivity and accuracy. Records shall not be altered and deletions shall not be made without indicating in the published text that a deletion has been made. The published record shall omit no facts which were of major importance in reaching a decision, and nothing shall be omitted for the purpose of concealing a defect of policy.
(c)Deadline for publication of records
The Secretary of State shall ensure that the FRUS series shall be published not more than 30 years after the events recorded.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Compliance With Deadline for Publication of FRUS Series; Notification to Congressional Committees on Failure To Comply; Final Deadline Pub. L. 102–138, title I, § 198(c)(2), Oct. 28, 1991, 105 Stat. 691, provided that: “(A) In order to come into compliance with section 401(c) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 [22 U.S.C. 4351(c)] (as amended by this section) the Secretary of State shall ensure that, by the end of the 3-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 28, 1991], all volumes of the Foreign Relations of the United States historical series (FRUS) for the years that are more than 30 years before the end of that 3-year period have been published. “(B) If the Secretary cannot reasonably meet the requirements of subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall notify the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and describe how the Department of State plans to meet the requirements of subparagraph (A). In no event shall volumes subject to subparagraph (A) be published later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 4351

Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110