---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 2386"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "2386"
heading: "Registration of certain organizations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/2386"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 115 — Treason, Sedition, and Subversive Activities"
---

# §2386. Registration of certain organizations


(A) For the purposes of this section:

“[Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k)” means the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k) of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9);

“[Organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4)” means any group, club, league, society, committee, association, political party, or combination of individuals, whether incorporated or otherwise, but such term shall not include any corporation, association, community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes;

“Political activity” means any activity the purpose or aim of which, or one of the purposes or aims of which, is the control by force or overthrow of the Government of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) or a political subdivision thereof, or any [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) or political subdivision thereof;

An [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) is engaged in “civilian military activity” if:

(1) it gives instruction to, or prescribes instruction for, its [members](/usc/18/1093.md?p=4) in the use of [firearms](/usc/18/232.md?p=4) or other weapons or any substitute therefor, or military or naval science; or

(2) it receives from any other [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) or from any individual instruction in military or naval science; or

(3) it engages in any military or naval maneuvers or activities; or

(4) it engages, either with or without arms, in drills or parades of a military or naval character; or

(5) it engages in any other form of organized activity which in the opinion of the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k) constitutes preparation for military action;

An [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) is “subject to foreign control” if:

(a) it solicits or accepts financial contributions, loans, or support of any kind, directly or indirectly, from, or is affiliated directly or indirectly with, a foreign government or a political subdivision thereof, or an agent, agency, or instrumentality of a foreign government or political subdivision thereof, or a political party in a foreign country, or an international political [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4); or

(b) its policies, or any of them, are determined by or at the suggestion of, or in collaboration with, a foreign government or political subdivision thereof, or an agent, agency, or instrumentality of a foreign government or a political subdivision thereof, or a political party in a foreign country, or an international political [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4).

(B)(1) The following [organizations](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) shall be required to register with the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k):

Every [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) subject to foreign control which engages in political activity;

Every [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) which engages both in civilian military activity and in political activity;

Every [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) subject to foreign control which engages in civilian military activity; and

Every [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), the purpose or aim of which, or one of the purposes or aims of which, is the establishment, control, conduct, seizure, or overthrow of a government or subdivision thereof by the use of force, violence, military measures, or threats of any one or more of the foregoing.

Every such [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) shall register by filing with the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k), on such forms and in such detail as the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k) may by rules and regulations prescribe, a registration statement containing the information and documents prescribed in subsection (B)(3) and shall within thirty days after the expiration of each period of six months succeeding the filing of such registration statement, file with the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k), on such forms and in such detail as the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k) may by rules and regulations prescribe, a supplemental statement containing such information and documents as may be necessary to make the information and documents previously filed under this section accurate and current with respect to such preceding six months’ period. Every statement required to be filed by this section shall be subscribed, under oath, by all of the [officers](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4).

(2) This section shall not require registration or the filing of any statement with the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k) by:

(a) The armed forces of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9); or

(b) The organized militia or National Guard of any [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9), Territory, District, or possession of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9); or

(c) Any law-enforcement agency of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) or of any Territory, District or possession thereof, or of any [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) or political subdivision of a [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9), or of any agency or instrumentality of one or more [States](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9); or

(d) Any duly established diplomatic mission or consular office of a foreign government which is so recognized by the Department of State; or

(e) Any nationally recognized [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) of [persons](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who are veterans of the armed forces of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), or affiliates of such [organizations](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4).

(3) Every registration statement required to be filed by any [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) shall contain the following information and documents:

(a) The name and post-office address of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) in the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), and the names and addresses of all branches, chapters, and affiliates of such [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4);

(b) The name, address, and nationality of each [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c), and of each [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who performs the functions of an [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c), of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), and of each branch, chapter, and affiliate of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4);

(c) The qualifications for membership in the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4);

(d) The existing and proposed aims and purposes of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), and all the means by which these aims or purposes are being attained or are to be attained;

(e) The address or addresses of meeting places of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), and of each branch, chapter, or affiliate of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), and the times of meetings;

(f) The name and address of each [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who has contributed any money, dues, property, or other thing of value to the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) or to any branch, chapter, or affiliate of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4);

(g) A detailed statement of the assets of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), and of each branch, chapter, and affiliate of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), the manner in which such assets were acquired, and a detailed statement of the liabilities and income of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) and of each branch, chapter, and affiliate of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4);

(h) A detailed description of the activities of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), and of each chapter, branch, and affiliate of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4);

(i) A description of the uniforms, badges, insignia, or other means of identification prescribed by the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), and worn or carried by its [officers](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) or [members](/usc/18/1093.md?p=4), or any of such [officers](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) or [members](/usc/18/1093.md?p=4);

(j) A copy of each book, pamphlet, leaflet, or other publication or item of written, printed, or graphic matter issued or distributed directly or indirectly by the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), or by any chapter, branch, or affiliate of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), or by any of the [members](/usc/18/1093.md?p=4) of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) under its authority or within its knowledge, together with the name of its author or authors and the name and address of the publisher;

(k) A description of all [firearms](/usc/18/232.md?p=4) or other weapons owned by the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), or by any chapter, branch, or affiliate of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), identified by the [manufacturer](/usc/18/841.md?p=h)’s number thereon;

(l) In case the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) is subject to foreign control, the manner in which it is so subject;

(m) A copy of the charter, articles of association, constitution, bylaws, rules, regulations, agreements, resolutions, and all other instruments relating to the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), powers, and purposes of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) and to the powers of the [officers](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) and of each chapter, branch, and affiliate of the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4); and

(n) Such other information and documents pertinent to the purposes of this section as the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k) may from time to time require.

All statements filed under this section shall be public records and open to public examination and inspection at all reasonable hours under such rules and regulations as the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k) may prescribe.

(C) The [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k) is authorized at any time to make, amend, and rescind such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section, including rules and regulations governing the statements required to be filed.

(D) [Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) violates any of the provisions of this section shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) in a statement filed pursuant to this section willfully makes any false statement or willfully omits to [state](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) any fact which is required to be stated, or which is necessary to make the statements made not misleading, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.


## Source credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 808; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(I), (L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 14–17 (Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 897, §§ 1–4, 54 Stat. 1201–1204).

Section consolidates sections 14–17 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., as subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d), respectively, of this section, with necessary changes of phraseology and translation of section references.

Words “upon conviction” which preceded “be subject” were omitted as surplusage, as punishment cannot otherwise be imposed.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000” in penultimate par. and for “fined not more than $2,000” in last par.