Title 44, Public Printing and DocumentsRelease 119-102
§1102 Printing to Be Authorized by Law and Necessary to the Public Business, Not in Excess of Appropriation, and on Special Requisition Filed with the Director of the Government Publishing Office
Title 44 › CHAPTER 11 — EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIARY PRINTING AND BINDING › § 1102
Summary
Heads of departments or agencies cannot print something unless the law allows it and it is needed for government work. Printing must stay within the fiscal‑year appropriation and have a signed special requisition filed with the Government Publishing Office Director.
Full Legal Text
Title 44, §1102
Public Printing and Documents, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)A head of an executive department, or of an independent agency or establishment of the Government may not cause to be printed, and the Director of the Government Publishing Office may not print, a document or matter unless it is authorized by law and necessary to the public business.
(b)Printing may not be done for an executive department, independent agency or establishment in a fiscal year in excess of the amount of the appropriation.
(c)Printing may not be done without a special requisition signed by the chief of the department, independent agency or establishment and filed with the Director of the Government Publishing Office.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on 44 U.S. Code, 1964 ed., §§ 213, 219 (Jan. 12, 1895, ch. 23, § 89, 94, 28 Stat. 622). This section incorporates the first paragraph of former section 213 and the first clause of former section 219. The balance of former section 213 will be found in section 1116, 1302, 1308, 1309, 1310, 1336 of the revision; that of former section 219 in section 1113 of the revision.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2014—Pub. L. 113–235, § 1301(c)(2), substituted “Director of the Government Publishing Office” for “Public Printer” in section catchline. Subsecs. (a), (c). Pub. L. 113–235, § 1301(c)(1), substituted “Director of the Government Publishing Office” for “Public Printer”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
44 U.S.C. § 1102
Title 44, Public Printing and Documents
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102