Us Code § 1261 - Enforcement, regulations, and scope
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 1261 — Enforcement, regulations, and scope, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 1261. Enforcement, regulations, and scope
(a) 1 The Attorney General—
(1) shall enforce the provisions of this chapter; and
(2) has the authority to issue regulations to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 761; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, §31, 63 Stat. 94; Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title IV, §4004(b), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1812; Pub. L. 107–296, title XI, §1112(g), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2276.)
Historical and Revision Notes
1948 Act
Based on sections 222, 223(b), 225 and 226 of title 27, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Intoxicating Liquors (June 25, 1936, ch. 815, §§5, 10, 49 Stat. 1929, 1930).
Changes were made in phraseology and arrangement.
1949 Act
This section [section 31] corrects a typographical error in section 1261 of title 18, U.S.C.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2002—Pub. L. 107–296, which directed amendment of subsec. (a) generally, was executed by amending text of section generally to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the amendment by Pub. L. 107–273, see below. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "The Secretary of the Treasury shall enforce the provisions of this chapter. Regulations to carry out its provisions shall be prescribed by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury."
Pub. L. 107–273 struck out subsec. (a) designation and subsec. (b) which read as follows: "This chapter shall not apply to the Canal Zone."
1949—Subsec. (b). Act May 24, 1949, substituted subsection designation "(b)" for "(d)".
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 107–296 effective 60 days after Nov. 25, 2002, see section 4 of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as an Effective Date note under section 101 of Title 6, Domestic Security.
About This Section
18 U.S.C. § 1261 is part of Title 18 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 18 U.S.C. § 1261. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.