
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: 28USC1602]

 
               TITLE 28--JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
 
                     PART IV--JURISDICTION AND VENUE
 
         CHAPTER 97--JURISDICTIONAL IMMUNITIES OF FOREIGN STATES
 
Sec. 1602. Findings and declaration of purpose

    The Congress finds that the determination by United States courts of 
the claims of foreign states to immunity from the jurisdiction of such 
courts would serve the interests of justice and would protect the rights 
of both foreign states and litigants in United States courts. Under 
international law, states are not immune from the jurisdiction of 
foreign courts insofar as their commercial activities are concerned, and 
their commercial property may be levied upon for the satisfaction of 
judgments rendered against them in connection with their commercial 
activities. Claims of foreign states to immunity should henceforth be 
decided by courts of the United States and of the States in conformity 
with the principles set forth in this chapter.

(Added Pub. L. 94-583, Sec. 4(a), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2892.)


                             Effective Date

    Section 8 of Pub. L. 94-583 provided that: ``This Act [enacting this 
chapter and section 1330 of this title, amending sections 1332, 1391, 
and 1441 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under 
this section and section 1 of this title] shall take effect ninety days 
after the date of its enactment [Oct. 21, 1976].''


                               Short Title

    For short title of Pub. L. 94-583 as the ``Foreign Sovereign 
Immunities Act of 1976'', see section 1 of Pub. L. 94-583, set out as a 
Short Title of 1976 Amendments note under section 1 of this title.


                              Separability

    Section 7 of Pub. L. 94-583 provided that: ``If any provision of 
this Act [enacting this chapter and section 1330 of this title, amending 
sections 1332, 1391, and 1441 of this title, and enacting provisions set 
out as notes under this section and section 1 of this title] or the 
application thereof to any foreign state is held invalid, the invalidity 
does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act which can be 
given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this 
end the provisions of this Act are severable.''
