
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 22USC2573]

 
               TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE
 
                CHAPTER 35--ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT
 
                        SUBCHAPTER III--FUNCTIONS
 
Sec. 2573. Policy formulation


(a) Formulation

    The Secretary of State shall prepare for the President, and the 
heads of such other Government agencies as the President may determine, 
recommendations and advice concerning United States arms control, 
nonproliferation, and disarmament policy.

(b) Prohibition

    No action shall be taken pursuant to this chapter or any other Act 
that would obligate the United States to reduce or limit the Armed 
Forces or armaments of the United States in a militarily significant 
manner, except pursuant to the treaty-making power of the President set 
forth in Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the Constitution or unless 
authorized by the enactment of further affirmative legislation by the 
Congress of the United States.

(c) Statutory construction

    Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to authorize 
any policy or action by any Government agency which would interfere 
with, restrict, or prohibit the acquisition, possession, or use of 
firearms by an individual for the lawful purpose of personal defense, 
sport, recreation, education, or training.

(Pub. L. 87-297, title III, Sec. 303, formerly Sec. 33, Sept. 26, 1961, 
75 Stat. 634; Pub. L. 88-186, Sec. 3, Nov. 26, 1963, 77 Stat. 342; Pub. 
L. 103-236, title VII, Sec. 709, Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 494; 
renumbered Sec. 303 and amended Pub. L. 105-277, div. G, subdiv. A, 
title XII, Sec. 1223(8), (21), subdiv. B, title XXVI, Sec. 2602, Oct. 
21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681-769, 2681-772, 2681-839.)


                               Amendments

    1998--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105-277, Sec. 1223(8), substituted 
``Secretary of State'' for ``Director'' and struck out ``the Secretary 
of State,'' after ``the President,''.
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105-277, Sec. 2602, added subsec. (c).
    1994--Pub. L. 103-236 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, 
section read as follows: ``The Director is authorized and directed to 
prepare for the President, the Secretary of State, and the heads of such 
other Government agencies, as the President may determine, 
recommendations concerning United States arms control and disarmament 
policy: Provided, however, That no action shall be taken under this 
chapter or any other law that will obligate the United States to disarm 
or to reduce or to limit the Armed Forces or armaments of the United 
States, except pursuant to the treaty making power of the President 
under the Constitution or unless authorized by further affirmative 
legislation by the Congress of the United States. Nothing contained in 
this chapter shall be construed to authorize any policy or action by any 
Government agency which would interfere with, restrict, or prohibit the 
acquisition, possession, or use of firearms by an individual for the 
lawful purpose of personal defense, sport, recreation, education, or 
training.''
    1963--Pub. L. 88-186 inserted provision precluding construction of 
this chapter to authorize the regulation of the possession of firearms 
by an individual.


                    Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

    Amendment by section 1223(8), (21) of Pub. L. 105-277 effective Apr. 
1, 1999, see section 1201 of Pub. L. 105-277, set out as an Effective 
Date note under section 6511 of this title.
