Title 50 — War and National DefenseRelease 119-73not60
§3231 Applicability to United States Intelligence Activities of Federal Laws Implementing International Treaties and Agreements
Title 50 › Chapter 44— NATIONAL SECURITY › Subchapter IX— ADDITIONAL MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › § 3231
Summary
Laws passed on or after December 27, 2000 that implement treaties or agreements cannot be read to make illegal any intelligence activity approved by an appropriate U.S. official acting within duties and following Federal law and applicable Presidential directive, unless the law covers it.
Full Legal Text
Title 50, §3231
War and National Defense — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)No Federal law enacted on or after December 27, 2000, that implements a treaty or other international agreement shall be construed as making unlawful an otherwise lawful and authorized intelligence activity of the United States Government or its employees, or any other person to the extent such other person is carrying out such activity on behalf of, and at the direction of, the United States, unless such Federal law specifically addresses such intelligence activity.
(b)An intelligence activity shall be treated as authorized for purposes of subsection (a) if the intelligence activity is authorized by an appropriate official of the United States Government, acting within the scope of the official duties of that official and in compliance with Federal law and any applicable Presidential directive.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification Section was formerly classified to section 442 of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
50 U.S.C. § 3231
Title 50 — War and National Defense
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60