7 USC 2 - Jurisdiction of Commission; liability of principal for act of agent; Commodity Futures Trading Commission; transaction in interstate commerce

1 See References in Text note below.

of title 15 or section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [

2 So in original. The word “or” probably should not appear.

section 3(a)(12) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [

3 So in original. Probably should be subclause “(III)”.

under this clause directing a contract market to alter or supplement a contract market rule shall be subject to review only in the Court of Appeals where the party seeking review resides or has its principal place of business, or in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The review shall be based on the examination of all information before the Board or the Commission, as the case may be, at the time the determination was made. The court reviewing the action of the Board or the Commission shall not enter a stay or order of mandamus unless the court has determined, after notice and a hearing before a panel of the court, that the agency action complained of was arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.

4 So in original. Probably should be “section”.

796(27) and (28) of title 16).

5 So in original.

7a–1,

6 So in original. No item (ee) has been enacted.

a retail foreign exchange dealer that maintains adjusted net capital equal to or in excess of the dollar amount that applies for purposes of clause (ii) of this subparagraph and is registered in such capacity with the Commission, subject to such terms and conditions as the Commission shall prescribe, and is a member of a futures association registered under

7 So in original. Probably should be “subparagraph”.

(A), (B), or (C), including any agreement, contract, or transaction specifically excluded from subparagraph (A), (B), or (C);

8 So in original. Probably should be “governmental”.

plan, as defined in paragraphs (3) and (32) of

9 So in original. Probably should be preceded by “section”.

of this title or a swap execution facility that is exempt from registration under

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1)(A), (G)(i), (H) and (i), is title VII of Puspan. L. 111–203, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1641, which enacted chapter 109 (§ 8301 et seq.) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, and enacted and amended numerous other sections and notes in the Code. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 8301 of Title 15 and Tables.

Section 77span(1) of title 15, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(C)(i)(I), was redesignated section 77span(a)(1) of title 15 by Puspan. L. 104–290, title I, § 106(a)(1), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3424.

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(D)(i)(VI), (iii)(II), is act June 6, 1934, ch. 404, 48 Stat. 881, as amended, which is classified principally to chapter 2B (§ 78a et seq.) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 78a of Title 15 and Tables.

The date of the enactment of this clause and such date of enactment, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(B)(ii), are the date of enactment of Puspan. L. 110–246, which was approved June 18, 2008.

Item (ee) of subsec. (c)(2)(B)(i)(II), referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(B)(iii), (iv)(I), (II)(aa), (C)(i)(I)(aa), (ii)(II)(aa), (iii)(I), (II)(aa), was redesignated item (dd) by Puspan. L. 111–203, title VII, § 742(c)(1)(C), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1733.

Item (gg) of subsec. (c)(2)(B)(i)(II), referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(B)(iii), (iv)(I), (III), (v), was redesignated item (ff) by Puspan. L. 111–203, title VII, § 742(c)(1)(C), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1733.

The Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000, referred to in subsec. (g)(1)(A), (2), is H.R. 5660, as enacted by Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5), Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–365. Title IV of the Act, known as the Legal Certainty for Bank Products Act of 2000, is classified to sections 27 to 27f of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 2000 Amendment note set out under section 1 of this title, and Tables.

For the effective date of this subsection and such effective date, referred to in subsec. (h)(5)(A), (B)(i), see Effective Date of 2010 Amendment note below.

Codification

Puspan. L. 110–234 and Puspan. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Puspan. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Puspan. L. 110–246.

Subsec. (a)(1)(B) of this section was formerly classified to section 4 of this title. Subsec. (a)(1)(C) of this section was formerly classified to section 2a of this title. Subsec. (a)(2) to (11) of this section was formerly classified to section 4a of this title. Subsec. (span) of this section was formerly classified to section 3 of this title.

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (a)(15)(E). Puspan. L. 117–286 substituted “Chapter 10 of title 5” for “FACA” in span and “chapter 10 of title 5.” for “the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).” in text.

2015—Subsec. (h)(7)(D). Puspan. L. 114–113 added cls. (i) to (iv) and (vi), redesignated former cl. (iii) as (v), and struck out former cls. (i) and (ii) which related to application of exception to affiliates and prohibition relating to certain affiliates, respectively.

2010—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 734(span)(1)(A), which directed amendment of subpar. (A) by striking “or 7a”, could not be executed because of prior amendment by Puspan. L. 111–203, § 722(a)(1). See below.

Puspan. L. 111–203, § 722(a)(1), inserted “the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010 (including an amendment made by that Act) and” after “otherwise provided in” and substituted “(C), (D), and (I)” for “(C) and (D)”, “(c) and (f)” for “(c) through (i) of this section”, “swaps or contracts of sale” for “contracts of sale”, and “pursuant to section 7 of this title or a swap execution facility pursuant to section 7span–3 of this title” for “or derivatives transaction execution facility registered pursuant to section 7 or 7a of this title”.

Subsec. (a)(1)(C)(i). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 717(a), designated existing provisions as subcl. (I), substituted “Except as provided in subclause (II), this” for “This”, and added subcl. (II).

Subsec. (a)(1)(G), (H). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 722(a)(2), added subpars. (G) and (H).

Subsec. (a)(1)(I). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 722(e), added subpar. (I).

Subsec. (a)(13), (14). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 727, added pars. (13) and (14).

Subsec. (a)(15). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 751, added par. (15).

Subsec. (c)(1). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 742(a)(1), substituted “, 7a–1, or 16(e)(2)(B) of this title)” for “7a (to the extent provided in section 7a(g) of this title), 7a–1, 7a–3, or 16(e)(2)(B) of this title)”.

Subsec. (c)(2)(A)(ii), (iii). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 722(c), added cl. (ii) and redesignated former cl. (ii) as (iii).

Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 741(span)(8)(A), struck out “(dd),” before “(ee),” wherever appearing.

Subsec. (c)(2)(B)(i)(II)(aa). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 742(c)(1)(A), inserted “United States” before “financial institution”.

Subsec. (c)(2)(B)(i)(II)(cc). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 721(e)(1)(A), substituted “section 1a” for “section 1a(20)” in two places.

Subsec. (c)(2)(B)(i)(II)(dd). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 742(c)(1)(B)–(D), redesignated item (ee) as (dd), substituted “; or” for semicolon at end, and struck out former item (dd) which read as follows: “an insurance company described in section 1a(18)(A)(ii) of this title, or a regulated subsidiary or affiliate of such an insurance company;”.

Puspan. L. 111–203, § 721(e)(1)(B), substituted “section 1a(18)(A)(ii)” for “section 1a(12)(A)(ii)”.

Subsec. (c)(2)(B)(i)(II)(ee) to (gg). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 742(c)(1)(B), (C), redesignated items (ee) and (gg) as (dd) and (ff), respectively, and struck out former item (ff) which read as follows: “an investment bank holding company (as defined in section 17(i) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78q(i))); or”.

Subsec. (c)(2)(B)(iii). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 741(span)(8)(B), inserted “, and accounts or pooled investment vehicles described in clause (vi),” before “shall be subject to”.

Subsec. (c)(2)(B)(vi). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 741(span)(8)(C), added cl. (vi).

Subsec. (c)(2)(C). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 741(span)(9)(A), struck out “(dd),” before “(ee),” wherever appearing.

Subsec. (c)(2)(C)(ii)(I). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 741(span)(9)(B), inserted “, and accounts or pooled investment vehicles described in clause (vii),” before “shall be subject to”.

Subsec. (c)(2)(C)(vii). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 741(span)(9)(C), added cl. (vii).

Subsec. (c)(2)(D). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 742(a)(2), added subpar. (D).

Subsec. (c)(2)(E). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 742(c)(2), added subpar. (E).

Subsecs. (d), (e). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 723(a)(1)(A), (2), added subsecs. (d) and (e) and struck out former subsecs. (d) and (e) which related to excluded derivative transactions and excluded electronic trading facilities, respectively.

Subsec. (g). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 723(a)(1), redesignated subsec. (i) as (g) and struck out former subsec. (g) which related to excluded swap transactions.

Subsec. (g)(2). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 734(span)(1)(B), substituted “section 7a–1 of this title” for “section 7a of this title (to the extent provided in section 7a(g) of this title), 7a–1 of this title, or 7a–3 of this title”.

Subsec. (h). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 723(a)(1)(A), (3), added subsec. (h) and struck out former subsec. (h) which related to legal certainty for certain transactions in exempt commodities.

Subsec. (i). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 723(a)(1)(B), which directed redesignation of subsec. (i) as (g), was executed by redesignating the subsec. (i) added by Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 107], relating to application of commodity futures laws, as (g), to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Another subsec. (i), relating to applicability of certain swaps provisions, was added by Puspan. L. 111–203, § 722(d). See below.

Puspan. L. 111–203, § 722(d), added subsec. (i) relating to applicability of certain swaps provisions.

Subsec. (j). Puspan. L. 111–203, § 723(span), added subsec. (j).

2008—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Puspan. L. 110–246, § 13203(c), inserted “(including significant price discovery contracts)” after “future delivery”.

Subsec. (c)(2)(B), (C). Puspan. L. 110–246, § 13101(a), added subpars. (B) and (C) and struck out former subpars. (B) and (C) which related to: in subpar. (B), applicability of chapter to an agreement, contract, or transaction in foreign currency that was a contract of sale of a commodity for future delivery or an option on such a contract and was offered to, or entered into with, a person who was not an eligible contract participant, unless the counterparty, or the person offering to be the counterparty, of the person was a financial institution, a registered broker or dealer or a registered futures commission merchant, an associated person of a registered broker or dealer or an affiliated person of a registered futures commission merchant, an insurance company or a regulated subsidiary or affiliate of such an insurance company, a financial holding company, or an investment bank holding company; and, in subpar. (C), applicability of sections 6span, 6c(span), 9, 12(a), 13a–1, 13a–2, 13span, and 15 of this title to agreements, contracts, or transactions described in former subpar. (B).

Subsec. (h)(3). Puspan. L. 110–246, § 13203(d), substituted “paragraphs (4) and (7)” for “paragraph (4)” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (h)(4)(B). Puspan. L. 110–246, § 13203(e)(1), inserted “and, for a significant price discovery contract, requiring large trader reporting,” after “proscribing fraud”.

Subsec. (h)(4)(D), (E). Puspan. L. 110–246, § 13203(e)(2), (3), added subpars. (D) and (E) and struck out former subpar. (D) which read as follows: “such rules and regulations as the Commission may prescribe if necessary to ensure timely dissemination by the electronic trading facility of price, trading volume, and other trading data to the extent appropriate, if the Commission determines that the electronic trading facility performs a significant price discovery function for transactions in the cash market for the commodity underlying any agreement, contract, or transaction executed or traded on the electronic trading facility.”

Subsec. (h)(5)(B)(iii)(I). Puspan. L. 110–246, § 13203(f), inserted “or to make the determination described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (7)” after “paragraph (4)”.

Subsec. (h)(7). Puspan. L. 110–246, § 13201(span), added par. (7).

2002—Subsec. (a)(7) to (12). Puspan. L. 107–171 added par. (7) and redesignated former pars. (7) to (11) as (8) to (12), respectively.

2000—Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(A)], inserted section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(A)], inserted headings for subsec. (a) and par. (1).

Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(B)(i)(II)], substituted “contract market designated or derivatives transaction execution facility registered pursuant to section 7 or 7a of this title” for “contract market designated pursuant to section 7 of this title”.

Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(B)(i)(I)], which directed substitution of “subparagraphs (C) and (D) of this paragraph and subsections (c) through (i) of this section” for “subparagraph (B) of this subparagraph”, was executed by making the substitution for “subparagraph (B) of this paragraph” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(A)], inserted span and struck out “(i)” before “The Commission shall have”.

Subsec. (a)(1)(A)(ii). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(B)(i)(III)], struck out cl. (ii) which read as follows: “Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to govern or in any way be applicable to transactions in foreign currency, security warrants, security rights, resales of installment loan contracts, repurchase options, government securities, or mortgages and mortgage purchase commitments, unless such transactions involve the sale thereof for future delivery conducted on a board of trade.”

Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(B)(i)(IV)], redesignated subsec. (a)(1)(A)(iii) as subsec. (a)(1)(B) and inserted span. Former subsec. (a)(1)(B) redesignated (a)(1)(C).

Subsec. (a)(1)(C). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(B)(ii)(I)], redesignated subpar. (B) as (C).

Subsec. (a)(1)(C)(i). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(B)(ii)(III)], adjusted margins.

Subsec. (a)(1)(C)(ii). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title II, § 251(a)(1)(A)(iii)], substituted “or the derivatives transaction execution facility, and the applicable contract, meet” for “making such application demonstrates and the Commission expressly finds that the specific contract (or option on such contract) with respect to which the application has been made meets” in introductory provisions.

Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title II, § 251(a)(1)(A)(ii)], which directed insertion of “, and no derivatives transaction execution facility shall trade or execute such contracts of sale (or options on such contracts) for future delivery,” after “contracts) for future delivery”, was executed by making the insertion in the proviso in introductory provisions to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title II, § 251(a)(1)(A)(i)], inserted “or register a derivatives transaction execution facility that trades or executes,” after “contract market in,” in introductory provisions.

Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(B)(ii)(III)], adjusted margins.

Subsec. (a)(1)(C)(ii)(III). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title II, § 251(a)(1)(A)(iv)], added subcl. (III) and struck out former subcl. (III) which read as follows: “Such group or index of securities shall be predominately composed of the securities of unaffiliated issuers and shall be a widely published measure of, and shall reflect, the market for all publicly traded equity or debt securities or a substantial segment thereof, or shall be comparable to such measure.”

Subsec. (a)(1)(C)(iii). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title II, § 251(a)(1)(B), (C)], added cl. (iii) and struck out former cl. (iii) which read as follows: “Upon application by a board of trade for designation as a contract market with respect to any contract of sale (or option on such contract) for future delivery involving a group or index of securities, the Commission shall provide an opportunity for public comment on whether such contracts (or options on such contracts) meet the minimum requirements set forth in clause (ii) of this subparagraph.”

Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(B)(ii)(III)], adjusted margins.

Subsec. (a)(1)(C)(iv). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title II, § 251(a)(1)(C), (D)], redesignated cl. (v) as (iv) and struck out former cl. (iv) which related to consultation by the Commission with, and the authority of, the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to approval of any application by a Board of Trade for designation as a contract market with respect to any contract of sale (or option of such contract) for future delivery of a group or index of securities.

Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(B)(ii)(III)], adjusted margins.

Subsec. (a)(1)(C)(v). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title II, § 251(span)(2)], redesignated cl. (vi) as (v), added subcls. (I) to (V), and struck out former subcls. (I) to (IV) which required any contract market in a stock index futures contract (or option thereon) to file with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System any rule establishing or changing the levels of margin for the stock index futures contract (or option thereon), authorized the Board to request any contract market to set the margins at certain levels, authorized the Board to delegate its authority under this clause to the Commission, and preserved the authority of the Commission to raise temporary emergency margin levels.

Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title II, § 251(a)(1)(D)], redesignated cl. (v) as (iv).

Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(B)(ii)(II), (III)], struck out “section 77c of title 15” after “exempted security under”, inserted “or subparagraph (D)” after “subparagraph”, and adjusted margins.

Subsec. (a)(1)(C)(vi). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title II, § 251(span)(2)], redesignated cl. (vi) as (v).

Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title II, § 251(span)(1)], redesignated subcl. (V) as (VI).

Subsec. (a)(1)(D). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title II, § 251(a)(2)], added subpar. (D).

Subsec. (a)(1)(E). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title II, § 251(i)], added subpar. (E).

Subsec. (a)(1)(F). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title II, § 251(j)], added subpar. (F).

Subsec. (a)(2) to (6). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(E)], adjusted margins.

Subsec. (a)(7). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(C), (E)], substituted “registered entity” for “contract market” and adjusted margins.

Subsec. (a)(8). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(E)], adjusted margins.

Subsec. (a)(8)(B)(ii). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(D)(iii)], in last sentence, substituted “designating, registering, or refusing, suspending, or revoking the designation or registration of, a board of trade as a contract market or derivatives transaction execution facility involving transactions for future delivery referred to in this clause or in considering any possible action under this chapter (including without limitation emergency action under section 12a(9) of this title)” for “designating, or refusing, suspending, or revoking the designation of, a board of trade as a contract market involving transactions for future delivery referred to in this clause or in considering possible emergency action under section 12a(9) of this title” and “designation, registration, suspension, revocation, or action” for “designation, suspension, revocation, or emergency action”.

Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(D)(ii)], substituted “designate or register a board of trade as a contract market or derivatives transaction execution facility” for “designate a board of trade as a contract market” in second sentence.

Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(D)(i)], substituted “designation or registration as a contract market or derivatives transaction execution facility” for “designation as a contract market” in first sentence.

Subsec. (a)(9). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 123(a)(2)(E)], adjusted margins.

Subsec. (c). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 102], added subsec. (c).

Subsec. (d). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 103], added subsec. (d).

Subsec. (e). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 104], added subsec. (e).

Subsec. (f). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 105(a)], added subsec. (f).

Subsec. (g). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 105(span)], added subsec. (g).

Subsec. (h). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 106], added subsec. (h).

Subsec. (i). Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 107], added subsec. (i).

1992—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Puspan. L. 102–546, § 404(span)(2)–(7), redesignated cls. (i) and (ii) of former third sentence as subcls. (I) and (II), respectively, designated former fifth sentence as cl. (ii), designated former eighth sentence as cl. (iii), and struck out former sixth, seventh, and ninth through last sentences, which included definitions of “future delivery”, “board of trade”, “interstate commerce”, “cooperative association of producers”, “member of a contract market”, “futures commission merchant”, “introducing broker”, “floor broker”, “the Commission”, “commodity trading advisor”, and “commodity pool operator”. See section 1a of this title.

Puspan. L. 102–546, § 404(span)(1), which directed the substitution of “(i) The Commission” for the words “For the purposes” and all that followed through “; Provided, That the Commission”, was executed by making the substitution for the first and second sentences and the third sentence through the words “: Provided, That the Commission”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Prior to amendment, the first, second, and third sentences included definitions of “contract of sale”, “person”, and “commodity”. See section 1a of this title.

Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(iv)(I). Puspan. L. 102–546, § 209(span)(1)(A), made technical amendment to reference to section 9 of this title appearing in penultimate sentence to reflect change in reference to corresponding section of original act.

Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(iv)(II). Puspan. L. 102–546, § 209(span)(1)(B), substituted “section 8(span)” for “section 8”.

Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(vi). Puspan. L. 102–546, § 501, added cl. (vi).

Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Puspan. L. 102–546, § 215, substituted second and third sentences for “The Commission shall be composed of five Commissioners, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. In nominating persons for appointment, the President shall seek to establish and maintain a balanced Commission, including, but not limited to, persons of demonstrated knowledge in futures trading or its regulation and persons of demonstrated knowledge in the production, merchandising, processing or distribution of one or more of the commodities or other goods and articles, services, rights and interests covered by this chapter.”

Subsec. (a)(9)(C). Puspan. L. 102–546, § 226, added subpar. (C).

1986—Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(iv)(I). Puspan. L. 99–641 substituted “Securities and Exchange Commission” for “Securities Exchange Commission” before “otherwise agree”.

1983—Subsec. (a)(1). Puspan. L. 97–444, § 101, designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), inserted in third sentence, first proviso, “, except to the extent otherwise provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph,” after “exclusive jurisdiction”, and added subpar. (B).

Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Puspan. L. 97–444, § 201, inserted definition of “introducing broker” and, in revising definition of “commodity training advisor”, included any person advising others through electronic media; substituted provision respecting advising others “as to the value of or the advisability of trading in any contract of sale of a commodity for future delivery made or to be made on or subject to the rules of a contract market, any commodity option authorized under section 6c of this title, or any leverage transaction authorized under section 23 of this title, or who, for compensation or profit, and as part of a regular business, issues or promulgates analyses or reports concerning any of the foregoing” for provision respecting advising others “as to the value of commodities or as to the advisability of trading in any commodity for future delivery on or subject to the rules of any market, or who for compensation or profit, and as part of a regular business, issues or promulgates analyses or reports concerning commodities”; excluded in item (i) any person acting as an employee of any bank or trust company; substituted in cl. (ii) “news reporter, news columnist, or news editor of the print or electronic media” for “newspaper reporter, newspaper columnist, newspaper editor”; substituted in cl. (iv) “the publisher or producer of any print or electronic data of general and regular dissemination, including its employees” for “the publisher of any bona fide newspaper magazine, or business or financial publication of general and regular circulation including their employees”; inserted item (v); redesignated as items (vi) and (vii) former items (v) and (vi); and authorized Commission to effectuate purposes of definition by rule or regulation by including within definition any person advising as to the value of commodities or issuing reports or analyses concerning commodities.

Subsec. (a)(7). Puspan. L. 97–444, § 202, struck out “(A)” after “(7)” and struck out subpar. (B) which prohibited any representative activities before the Commission for a one year period upon termination of employment occurring on a day more than four months after Sept. 30, 1978, of any Commissioner or employee of the Commission having a GS–16 or higher classified position excepted from the competitive service because of its confidential or policymaking character.

1978—Subsec. (a)(1). Puspan. L. 95–405, § 2(1), substituted “section 23 of this title” for “section 15a of this title”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Puspan. L. 95–405, § 2(2)–(5), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and substituted “five Commissioners” for “a chairman and four other Commissioners”, “(i)” for “(A)”, and “(ii)” for “(B)”, and added subpar. (B).

Subsec. (a)(5). Puspan. L. 95–405, § 2(6), struck out “, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate,” after “by the Commission”.

Subsec. (a)(6)(A). Puspan. L. 95–405, § 2(7), inserted “according to budget categories, plans, programs, and priorities established and approved by the Commission,” after “expenditure of funds,”.

Subsec. (a)(6)(B). Puspan. L. 95–405, § 2(8), substituted “, plans, priorities, and budgets approved by the Commission” for “of the Commission”.

Subsec. (a)(7). Puspan. L. 95–405, § 2(9), (10), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and added subpar. (B).

Subsec. (a)(8). Puspan. L. 95–405, § 2(11)–(13), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), substituted “maintain” for “establish a separate office within the Department of Agriculture to be staffed with employees of the Commission for the purpose of maintaining”, and added subpar. (B).

Subsec. (a)(9)(A), (B). Puspan. L. 95–405, § 2(14), (15), substituted “Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry” for “Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry”.

1974—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 93–463, § 101(a), designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “Commodity Futures Trading Commission established under paragraph (2) of this subsection” for “Commodity Exchange Commission, consisting of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Attorney General, or an official or employee of each of the executive departments concerned, designated by the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Attorney General, respectively; and the Secretary of Agriculture or his designee shall serve as Chairman”, and added pars. (2) to (11).

Subsec. (a)(1). Puspan. L. 93–463, §§ 201, 202, struck out “onions,” after “eggs,” in definition of “commodity” and inserted provisions to that definition to include as commodities all other goods and articles, except onions as provided in section 13–1 of this title, and all services, rights, and interests in which contracts for the future delivery are presently or in the future dealt in, and inserted definitions for “commodity trading advisor” and “commodity pool operator”.

1968—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 90–418 extended definition of “commodity” in third sentence to include frozen concentrated orange juice.

Puspan. L. 90–258, § 1(c), provided in last sentence for representation on the Commission of Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Commerce, and Attorney General by an official or employee designated from executive department concerned and for service of Secretary of Agriculture or his designee as Chairman.

Puspan. L. 90–258, § 1(span), substituted in definition of “floor broker” in penultimate sentence “purchase or sell for any other person” for “engage in executing for others any order for the purchase or sale of” and struck out provision for receipt or acceptance of any commission or other compensation for services as a floor broker.

Puspan. L. 90–258, § 1(a), extended definition of “commodity” in third sentence to include livestock and livestock products.

1955—Subsec. (a). Act July 26, 1955, extended “commodity” to onions.

1954—Subsec. (a). Act Aug. 28, 1954, extended “commodity” to wool.

1940—Subsec. (a). Act Oct. 9, 1940, extended “commodity” to fats and oils (including lard, tallow, cottonseed oil, peanut oil, soybean oil, and all other fats and oils), cottonseed meal, cottonseed, peanuts, soybeans and soybean meal.

1938—Subsec. (a). Act Apr. 7, 1938, extended “commodity” to wool tops.

1936—Subsec. (a). Act June 15, 1936, substituted “commodity”, “any commodity”, or “commodities”, as the case may require, for “grain” wherever appearing, and “any cash commodity” for “cash grain”, substituted sentence defining “commodity” for sentence defining “grain”, and inserted definitions of “cooperative association of producers,”, “member of a contract market”, “futures commission merchant”, “floor broker”, and “the commission.”

Subsec. (span). Act June 15, 1936, § 2, substituted “commodity” and “commodities”, as the case may require, for “grain” wherever appearing.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2010 Amendment

Amendment by Puspan. 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 Puspan. 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 Puspan. L. 111–203, set out as a note under section 1a of this title.

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment of this section and repeal of Puspan. L. 110–234 by Puspan. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Puspan. L. 110–234, except as otherwise provided, see section 4 of Puspan. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of this title.

Puspan. L. 110–234, title XIII, § 13101(span), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1432, and Puspan. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title XIII, § 13101(span), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2194, provided that: “The following provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act [7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.], as amended by subsection (a) of this section [amending this section], shall be effective 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [June 18, 2008] or at such other time as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission shall determine:

“(1) Subparagraphs (B)(i)(II)(gg), (B)(iv), and (C)(iii) of section 2(c)(2) [7 U.S.C. 2(c)(2)].

“(2) The provisions of section 2(c)(2)(B)(i)(II)(cc) [7 U.S.C. 2(c)(2)(B)(i)(II)(cc)] that set forth adjusted net capital requirements, and the provisions of such section that require a futures commission merchant to be primarily or substantially engaged in certain business activities.”

[Puspan. L. 110–234 and Puspan. L. 110–246 enacted identical provisions. Puspan. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Puspan. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of this title.]

Puspan. L. 110–234, title XIII, § 13204, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1441, and Puspan. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title XIII, § 13204, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2203, provided that:

“(a)In General.—Except as provided in this section, this subtitle [subtitle B (§§ 13201–13204) of title XIII of Puspan. L. 110–246, amending this section and sections 1a, 6a, 6g, 6i, 7a, 7a–2, 7span, 8, and 25 of this title] shall become effective on the date of enactment of this Act [June 18, 2008].

“(span)Significant Price Discovery Standards Rulemaking.—

“(1) The Commodity Futures Trading Commission shall—

“(A) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [June 18, 2008], issue a proposed rule regarding the implementation of section 2(h)(7) of the Commodity Exchange Act [7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)]; and

“(B) not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act [June 18, 2008], issue a final rule regarding the implementation.

“(2) In its rulemaking pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Commission shall include the standards, terms, and conditions under which an electronic trading facility will have the responsibility to notify the Commission that an agreement, contract, or transaction conducted in reliance on the exemption provided in section 2(h)(3) of the Commodity Exchange Act [7 U.S.C. 2(h)(3)] may perform a price discovery function.

“(c)Significant Price Discovery Determinations.—With respect to any electronic trading facility operating on the effective date of the final rule issued pursuant to subsection (span)(1), the Commission shall complete a review of the agreements, contracts, and transactions of the facility not later than 180 days after that effective date to determine whether any such agreement, contract, or transaction performs a significant price discovery function.”

Effective Date of 1983 Amendment

Puspan. L. 97–444, title II, § 239, Jan. 11, 1983, 96 Stat. 2327, provided that: “This Act [see Short Title of 1983 Amendment note set out under section 1 of this title] shall be effective upon the date of enactment of this Act [Jan. 11, 1983], except that sections 207, 212, and 231 of this Act [amending sections 6d, 6k, and 18 of this title] shall be effective one hundred and twenty days after the date of enactment of this Act, or such earlier date as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission shall prescribe by regulation.”

Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Puspan. L. 95–405, § 28, Sept. 30, 1978, 92 Stat. 878, provided that: “Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the provisions of this Act [see Short Title of 1978 Amendment note set out under section 1 of this title] shall become effective October 1, 1978.”

Effective Date of 1974 Amendment

Puspan. L. 93–463, title IV, § 418, Oct. 23, 1974, 88 Stat. 1415, provided that:

“(a) Except as otherwise provided specifically in this Act [see Short Title of 1974 Amendment note set out under section 1 of this title], the effective date of this Act shall be the 180th day after enactment [Oct. 23, 1974]. The Commission referred to in section 101 [Commodity Futures Trading Commission] is hereby established effective immediately on enactment of this Act. Sections 102 and 410 [amending sections 5108, 5314, 5315, and 5316 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees] shall be effective immediately on enactment of this Act. Activities necessary to implement the changes effected by this Act may be carried out after the date of enactment and before as well as after the 180th day thereafter. Activities to be carried out after the date of enactment and before the 180th day thereafter may include, but are not limited to the following: Designation of boards of trade as contract markets, registration of futures commission merchants, floor brokers, and other persons required to be registered under the Act [this chapter], approval or modification of bylaws, rules, regulations, and resolutions of contract markets, and issuance of regulations, effective on or after the 180th day after enactment; appointment and compensation of the members of the Commission; hiring and compensation of staff; and conducting of investigations and hearings. Nothing in this Act shall limit the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture or the Commodity Exchange Commission under the Commodity Exchange Act [7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.], as amended, prior to the 180th day after enactment of this Act.

“(span) Funds appropriated for the administration of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended [7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.], may be used to implement this Act immediately after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 23, 1974].”

Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

Puspan. L. 90–258, § 28, Fespan. 19, 1968, 82 Stat. 34, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 12span, 13span, 13c, and 17span of this title and amending this section and sections 6a, 6span, 6d, 6f, 6g, 6i, 7, 7a, 7span, 8, 9, 12, 12–1, 12a, 13, and 13a of this title] shall become effective one hundred and twenty days after enactment [Fespan. 19, 1968].”

Effective Date of 1955 Amendment

Act July 26, 1955, ch. 382, § 2, 69 Stat. 375, provided that: “This Act [amending this section] shall take effect sixty days after the date of its enactment [July 26, 1955].”

Effective Date of 1954 Amendment

Act Aug. 28, 1954, ch. 1041, title VII, § 710(span), 68 Stat. 913, which provided that the amendment of this section by act Aug. 28, 1954, was effective 60 days after Aug. 28, 1954, was repealed by Puspan. L. 103–130, § 3(a), Nov. 1, 1993, 107 Stat. 1369, eff. Dec. 31, 1995.

Effective Date of 1940 Amendment

Act Oct. 9, 1940, ch. 786, § 2, 54 Stat. 1059, provided that: “This Act [amending this section] shall take effect sixty days after the date of its enactment [Oct. 9, 1940].”

Effective Date of 1936 Amendment

Amendment by act June 15, 1936, effective 90 days after June 15, 1936, see section 13 of that act, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Separability of 1974 Amendment

Puspan. L. 93–463, title IV, § 413, Oct. 23, 1974, 88 Stat. 1414, provided that: “If any provision of this Act [see Short Title of 1974 Amendment note set out under section 1 of this title] or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of the Act and the application of such provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.”

Grandfather Provisions

Puspan. L. 111–203, title VII, § 723(c), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1682, provided that:

“(1)Legal certainty for certain transactions in exempt commodities.—Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act [July 21, 2010], a person may submit to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission a petition to remain subject to section 2(h) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 2(h)) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act).

“(2)Consideration; authority of commodity futures trading commission.—The Commodity Futures Trading Commission—

“(A) shall consider any petition submitted under subparagraph (A) in a prompt manner; and

“(B) may allow a person to continue operating subject to section 2(h) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 2(h)) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act) for not longer than a 1-year period.

“(3)Agricultural swaps.—

“(A)In general.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), no person shall offer to enter into, enter into, or confirm the execution of, any swap in an agricultural commodity (as defined by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission).

“(B)Exception.—Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a person may offer to enter into, enter into, or confirm the execution of, any swap in an agricultural commodity pursuant to section 4(c) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 6(c)) or any rule, regulation, or order issued thereunder (including any rule, regulation, or order in effect as of the date of enactment of this Act) by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to allow swaps under such terms and conditions as the Commission shall prescribe.

“(4)Required reporting.—If the exception described in section 2(h)(8)(B) of the Commodity Exchange Act [7 U.S.C. 2(h)(8)(B)] applies, the counterparties shall comply with any recordkeeping and transaction reporting requirements that may be prescribed by the Commission with respect to swaps subject to section 2(h)(8)(B) of the Commodity Exchange Act.”

[For definition of “swap” as used in section 723(c) of Puspan. L. 111–203, set out above, see section 5301 of Title 12, Banks and Banking.]

Portfolio Margining and Security Index Issues

Puspan. L. 110–234, title XIII, § 13106, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1435, and Puspan. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title XIII, § 13106, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2197, provided that:

“(a) The Secretary of the Treasury, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission shall work to ensure that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), or both, as appropriate, have taken the actions required under subsection (span).

“(span) The SEC, the CFTC, or both, as appropriate, shall take action under their existing authorities to permit—

“(1) by September 30, 2009, risk-based portfolio margining for security options and security futures products (as defined in section 1a(32) [now 1a(45)] of the Commodity Exchange Act [7 U.S.C. 1a(32), now 1a(45)]); and

“(2) by June 30, 2009, the trading of futures on certain security indexes by resolving issues related to foreign security indexes.”

Study Regarding Retail Swaps

Puspan. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 105(c)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–379, required the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission to conduct a study of issues involving the offering of swap agreements to persons other than eligible contract participants and, before the end of the 1-year period beginning on Dec. 21, 2000, submit a report on findings and conclusions of the study and recommendations for any necessary legislative action to Congress.

Educational Events and Symposia

Puspan. L. 106–78, title VI, Oct. 22, 1999, 113 Stat. 1160, provided in part: “That for fiscal year 2000 and thereafter, the Commission [Commodity Futures Trading Commission] is authorized to charge reasonable fees to attendees of Commission sponsored educational events and symposia to cover the Commission’s costs of providing those events and symposia, and notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, said fees shall be credited to this account, to be available without further appropriation.”

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriations acts:

Puspan. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(a) [title VI], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681, 2681–24.

Puspan. L. 105–86, title VI, Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 2104.

Puspan. L. 104–180, title VI, Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1596.

Puspan. L. 104–37, title VI, Oct. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 327.

Puspan. L. 103–330, title VI, Sept. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 2466.

Non-Abatement of Pending Proceedings

Puspan. L. 93–463, title IV, § 412, Oct. 23, 1974, 88 Stat. 1414, provided that: “Pending proceedings under existing law shall not be abated by reason of any provision of this Act [see Short Title of 1974 Amendment note set out under section 1 of this title] but shall be disposed of pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended [7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.], in effect prior to the effective date of this Act [see Effective Date of 1974 Amendment note above].”