Us Code § 1951 - Congressional findings and declaration of purpose

Full text of Us Code United States Code § 1951 — Congressional findings and declaration of purpose, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 1951. Congressional findings and declaration of purpose

(a) The Congress finds that certain records maintained by businesses engaged in the functions described in section 1953(b) of this title have a high degree of usefulness in criminal, tax, and regulatory investigations and proceedings. The Congress further finds that the power to require reports of changes in the ownership, control, and managements of types of financial institutions referred to in section 1952 of this title may be necessary for the same purpose.

(b) It is the purpose of this chapter to require the maintenance of appropriate types of records and the making of appropriate reports by such businesses in the United States where such records or reports have a high degree of usefulness in criminal, tax, or regulatory investigations or proceedings.

(Pub. L. 91–508, title I, §121, Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1116.)


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 91–508, title IV, §401(a), (b), Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1125, provided that:

"(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, titles I, II, and III of this Act and the amendments made thereby [enacting this chapter and sections 1730d and 1829b of this title and section 1051 et seq. of former Title 31, Money and Finance, amending section 78g of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 78g of Title 15 and section 1051 of former Title 31] take effect on the first day of the seventh calendar month which begins after the date of enactment [Oct. 26, 1970].

"(b) The Secretary of the Treasury may by regulation provide that any provision of title I or II or any amendment made thereby [enacting this chapter and sections 1730d and 1829b of this title] shall be effective on any date not earlier than the publication of the regulation in the Federal Register and not later than the first day of the thirteenth calendar month which begins after the date of enactment [Oct. 26, 1970]."

Short Title of 2014 Amendment

Pub. L. 113–156, §1, Aug. 8, 2014, 128 Stat. 1829, provided that: "This Act [amending section 1958 of this title and section 5318 of Title 31, Money and Finance, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 1958 of this title] may be cited as the 'Money Remittances Improvement Act of 2014'."

Short Title

Title I of Pub. L. 91–508, title II of Pub. L. 91–508, titles I and II of Pub. L. 91–508, and subchapter II of chapter 53 of Title 31, Money and Finance, have each been popularly known as the "Bank Secrecy Act". Title I of Pub. L. 91–508, Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1114, as amended, enacted this chapter, former section 1730d of this title, and section 1829b of this title. Title II of Pub. L. 91–508, Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1118, as amended, also known as the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act, enacted chapter 21 (§1051 et seq.) of former Title 31, Money and Finance, which was repealed and reenacted as subchapter II of chapter 53 of Title 31, Money and Finance, by Pub. L. 97–258, §4(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1067, the first section of which enacted Title 31. For complete classification of Pub. L. 91–508 to the Code, see Tables.

About This Section

12 U.S.C. § 1951 is part of Title 12 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 12 U.S.C. § 1951. 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.

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Us Code § 1951

What does United States Code § 1951 cover?

Section 1951 ("Congressional findings and declaration of purpose") is part of the United States Code, the codified statutory law of Us Code. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Us Code § 1951?

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Is this the official text of Us Code law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Us Code official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Us Code attorney.

How does Us Code § 1951 apply to my situation?

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Sources & Verification

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