Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-110

§9a Assessment of Money Penalties

Title 7 › CHAPTER 1 — COMMODITY EXCHANGES › § 9a

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Commission must make money penalties fit how serious the violation is. After the time given to pay ends, the person has fifteen days to show they have appealed or paid the full amount. If they do not, at the end of those fifteen days and until they pay the full amount plus interest, they are automatically barred from the privileges of all registered entities and, if they are registered, their registration is suspended. If the person appeals and the Commission wins or the appeal is dismissed, the person has thirty days from the judgment to pay in full. If they do not, the same bar and suspension apply. If the person still does not pay after the appeal time or after the penalty is confirmed, the Commission may ask the Attorney General to sue in federal court to collect the penalty. A designated clearing organization, a swap dealer, or a major swap participant that knowingly or recklessly evades or helps others evade the law’s clearing requirement is subject to a civil money penalty equal to twice the usual amount for that violation.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §9a

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(1)In determining the amount of the money penalty assessed under section 9 of this title, the Commission shall consider the appropriateness of such penalty to the gravity of the violation.
(2)Unless the person against whom a money penalty is assessed under section 9 of this title shows to the satisfaction of the Commission within fifteen days from the expiration of the period allowed for payment of such penalty that either an appeal as authorized by section 9 of this title has been taken or payment of the full amount of the penalty then due has been made, at the end of such fifteen-day period and until such person shows to the satisfaction of the Commission that payment of such amount with interest thereon to date of payment has been made—
(A)such person shall be prohibited automatically from the privileges of all registered entities; and
(B)if such person is registered with the Commission, such registration shall be suspended automatically.
(3)If a person against whom a money penalty is assessed under section 9 of this title takes an appeal and if the Commission prevails or the appeal is dismissed, unless such person shows to the satisfaction of the Commission that payment of the full amount of the penalty then due has been made by the end of thirty days from the date of entry of judgment on the appeal—
(A)such person shall be prohibited automatically from the privileges of all registered entities; and
(B)if such person is registered with the Commission, such registration shall be suspended automatically.
If the person against whom the money penalty is assessed fails to pay such penalty after the lapse of the period allowed for appeal or after the affirmance of such penalty, the Commission may refer the matter to the Attorney General who shall recover such penalty by action in the appropriate United States district court.
(4)Any designated clearing organization that knowingly or recklessly evades or participates in or facilitates an evasion of the requirements of section 2(h) of this title shall be liable for a civil money penalty in twice the amount otherwise available for a violation of section 2(h) of this title.
(5)Any swap dealer or major swap participant that knowingly or recklessly evades or participates in or facilitates an evasion of the requirements of section 2(h) of this title shall be liable for a civil money penalty in twice the amount otherwise available for a violation of section 2(h) of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section is comprised of subsec. (e) of section 6 of act Sept. 21, 1922. Subsecs. (a) and (b) of section 6 are classified to section 8 of this title. Subsec. (c) of section 6 is classified to section 9 of this title. Subsecs. (d), (f), and (g) of section 6 are classified to section 13b, 9b, and 9c of this title, respectively.

Amendments

2010—Pars. (4), (5). Pub. L. 111–203 added pars. (4) and (5). 2000—Pars. (2)(A), (3)(A). Pub. L. 106–554 substituted “the privileges of all registered entities” for “trading on all contract markets”. 1992—Pub. L. 102–546 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “In determining the amount of the money penalty assessed under section 9 and 15 of this title, the Commission shall consider, in the case of a person whose primary business involves the use of the commodity futures market—the appropriateness of such penalty to the size of the business of the person charged, the extent of such person’s ability to continue in business, and the gravity of the violation; and in the case of a person whose primary business does not involve the use of the commodity futures market—the appropriateness of such penalty to the net worth of the person charged, and the gravity of the violation. If the offending person upon whom such penalty is imposed, after the lapse of the period allowed for appeal or after the affirmance of such penalty, shall fail to pay such penalty the Commission shall refer the matter to the Attorney General who shall recover such penalty by action in the appropriate United States district court.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2010 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–203 effective on the later of 360 days after July 21, 2010, or, to the extent a provision of subtitle A (§§ 711–754) of title VII of Pub. L. 111–203 requires a rulemaking, not less than 60 days after publication of the final rule or regulation implementing such provision of subtitle A, see section 754 of Pub. L. 111–203, set out as a note under section 1a of this title.

Effective Date

For

Effective Date

of section, see section 418 of Pub. L. 93–463, set out as an

Effective Date

of 1974 Amendment note under section 2 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 9a

Title 7, Agriculture

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110