---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 617"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "617"
heading: "Liability of officers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/617"
units:
  - "Chapter 11 — Foreign Agents and Propaganda"
  - "Subchapter II — Registration of Foreign Propagandists"
---

# §617. Liability of officers


Each officer, or [person](/usc/22/611.md?p=a) performing the functions of an officer, and each director, or [person](/usc/22/611.md?p=a) performing the functions of a director, of an [agent of a foreign principal](/usc/22/611.md?p=c) which is not an individual shall be under obligation to cause such agent to execute and file a [registration statement](/usc/22/611.md?p=k) and supplements thereto as and when such filing is required under subsections (a) and (b) of [section 612 of this title](/usc/22/612.md) and shall also be under obligation to cause such agent to comply with all the requirements of [sections 614(a)](/usc/22/614.md?p=a) and (b) and [615](/usc/22/615.md) of this title and all other requirements of this subchapter. Dissolution of any organization acting as an [agent of a foreign principal](/usc/22/611.md?p=c) shall not relieve any officer, or [person](/usc/22/611.md?p=a) performing the functions of an officer, or any director, or [person](/usc/22/611.md?p=a) performing the functions of a director, from complying with the provisions of this section. In case of failure of any such [agent of a foreign principal](/usc/22/611.md?p=c) to comply with any of the requirements of this subchapter, each of its officers, or [persons](/usc/22/611.md?p=a) performing the functions of officers, and each of its directors, or [persons](/usc/22/611.md?p=a) performing the functions of directors, shall be subject to prosecution therefor.


## Source credit

(June 8, 1938, ch. 327, § 7, 52 Stat. 633; Apr. 29, 1942, ch. 263, § 1, 56 Stat. 256; Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 524, § 2, 64 Stat. 400.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Section 7 of act June 8, 1938, prior to the general amendment of that act by act Apr. 29, 1942, provided for the effective date of the 1938 act. See Effective Date note set out under section 611 of this title.

### Amendments

1950—Act Aug. 3, 1950, continued the obligation of officers, directors, and persons acting as such to comply with this subchapter despite the dissolution of a foreign agent.

1942—Act Apr. 29, 1942, amended section generally.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1942 Amendment

Amendment by act Apr. 29, 1942, effective on the sixtieth day after Apr. 29, 1942, except that prior to such sixtieth day the Attorney General may make, prescribe, amend, and rescind such rules, regulations, and forms as may be necessary to carry out act Apr. 29, 1942, see section 3 of act Apr. 29, 1942, set out as a note under section 611 of this title.