§15. Enforcement powers of Commission

For the purpose of securing effective enforcement of the provisions of this chapter, for the purpose of any investigation or proceeding under this chapter, and for the purpose of any action taken under section 16(f) of this title, any member of the Commission or any Administrative Law Judge or other officer designated by the Commission (except as provided in the third sentence of this section) may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the production of any books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, or other records that the Commission deems relevant or material to the inquiry. The attendance of witnesses and the production of any such records may be required from any place in the United States, any State, or any foreign country or jurisdiction at any designated place of hearing. A subpoena issued under this section may be served upon any person who is not to be found within the territorial jurisdiction of any court of the United States in such manner as the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure prescribe for service of process in a foreign country, except that a subpoena to be served on a person who is not to be found within the territorial jurisdiction of any court of the United States may be issued only on the prior approval of the Commission. In case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to, any person, the Commission may invoke the aid of any court of the United States within the jurisdiction in which the investigation or proceeding is conducted, or where such person resides or transacts business, in requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, and other records. Such court may issue an order requiring such person to appear before the Commission or member or Administrative Law Judge or other officer designated by the Commission, there to produce records, if so ordered, or to give testimony touching the matter under investigation or in question. Any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt thereof. All process in any such case may be served in the judicial district wherein such person is an inhabitant or transacts business or wherever such person may be found.

(Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 369, §6(c), formerly §6(b), 42 Stat. 1002 ; June 15, 1936, ch. 545, §8(e)–(g), 49 Stat. 1499 ; June 16, 1955, ch. 151, 69 Stat. 160 ; Pub. L. 91–452, title II, §202, Oct. 15, 1970, 84 Stat. 928 ; Pub. L. 93–463, title I, §103(d), title IV, §408(b), Oct. 23, 1974, 88 Stat. 1392 , 1414; Pub. L. 95–405, §13(3), Sept. 30, 1978, 92 Stat. 871 ; Pub. L. 99–641, title I, §103, Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3557 ; renumbered §6(c) and amended Pub. L. 102–546, title II, §209(a)(1), title III, §301, title IV, §402(7), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3606 , 3622, 3624.)

Amendment of Section

Pub. L. 111–203, title VII, §753(a), (d), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1750 , 1754, provided that, effective on the date on which the final rule promulgated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission pursuant to Pub. L. 111–203 takes effect, section 6(c) of act Sept. 21, 1922, part of which comprises this section, is amended generally. See Amendment of Section note set out under section 9 of this title.

References in Text

This section, referred to in text, means section 6 of act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 369, 42 Stat. 1001 . For classification of section 6 to the Code, see Codification note below.

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, referred to in text, are set out in the Appendix to Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

Codification

Section is comprised of part of subsec. (c) of section 6 of act Sept. 21, 1922. A further provision of subsec. (c) is contained in section 9 of this title. This subsec. (c) [former par. (a)] prior to its incorporation into the Code contained a provision as to finality of judgments and review by the Supreme Court and is covered by section 1254 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure. Subsecs. (a) and (b) of section 6 are classified to section 8 of this title. Subsecs. (d), (e), (f), and (g) of section 6 are classified to sections 13b, 9a, 9b, and 9c of this title, respectively.

Amendments

1992-Pub. L. 102–546 substituted "chapter," for "chapter and" after "provisions of this", "chapter, and for the purpose of any action taken under section 16(f) of this title, any" for "chapter, any", and "subpoena" for "subpena" wherever appearing.

1986-Pub. L. 99–641 inserted "(except as provided in the third sentence of this section)", substituted ", any State, or any foreign country or jurisdiction" for "or any State", and inserted provisions which related to service of subpena upon person not found within territorial jurisdiction of United States.

1978-Pub. L. 95–405 substituted provisions giving Commission or any Administrative Law Judge or other officer designated by Commission independent authority to administer oaths and affirmations, to subpena witnesses, and related actions for the purpose of conducting investigations and proceedings with regard to this chapter for provisions basing authority of Commission or any Administrative Law Judge with regard to investigations and proceedings under this chapter on the Interstate Commerce Act and inserted provisions authorizing Commission to invoke the aid of the courts in requiring attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books and other records.

1974-Pub. L. 93–463 struck out "the Secretary of Agriculture (or any person designated by him)," after "jurisdiction, and authority of" and substituted "Administrative Law Judge" for "referee".

1970-Pub. L. 91–452 struck out references to sections 46–48 of title 49, and provisions relating to the immunity of witnesses.

1955-Act June 16, 1955, extended subpoena power to investigations.

1936-Act June 15, 1936, §8(e), (f), substituted "sections 12 and 46–48 of title 49" for "section 12 of title 49".

Act June 15, 1936, §8(g), substituted "and" for "or" after "commission".

Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–405 effective Oct. 1, 1978, see section 28 of Pub. L. 95–405, set out as a note under section 2 of this title.

Effective Date of 1974 Amendment

For effective date of amendment of Pub. L. 93–463, see section 418 of Pub. L. 93–463, set out as a note under section 2 of this title.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 91–452 effective on sixtieth day following Oct. 15, 1970, and not to affect any immunity to which any individual is entitled under this section by reason of any testimony given before sixtieth day following Oct. 15, 1970, see section 260 of Pub. L. 91–452, set out as an Effective Date; Savings Provision note under section 6001 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

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.