---
kind: "section"
citation: "29 U.S.C. § 464"
title: "29"
title_heading: "Labor"
number: "464"
heading: "Civil action for enforcement"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/29/464"
units:
  - "Chapter 11 — Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Procedure"
  - "Subchapter IV — Trusteeships"
---

# §464. Civil action for enforcement

- (a) **Complaint; investigation; commencement of action by Secretary, member or subordinate body of labor organization; jurisdiction—** Upon the written complaint of any member or subordinate body of a [labor organization](/usc/29/402.md?p=i) alleging that such organization has violated the provisions of this subchapter (except [section 461 of this title](/usc/29/461.md)) the [Secretary](/usc/29/402.md?p=p) shall investigate the complaint and if the [Secretary](/usc/29/402.md?p=p) finds probable cause to believe that such violation has occurred and has not been remedied he shall, without disclosing the identity of the complainant, bring a civil action in any [district court of the United States](/usc/29/402.md?p=r) having jurisdiction of the [labor organization](/usc/29/402.md?p=i) for such relief (including injunctions) as may be appropriate. Any member or subordinate body of a [labor organization](/usc/29/402.md?p=i) affected by any violation of this subchapter (except [section 461 of this title](/usc/29/461.md)) may bring a civil action in any [district court of the United States](/usc/29/402.md?p=r) having jurisdiction of the [labor organization](/usc/29/402.md?p=i) for such relief (including injunctions) as may be appropriate.
- (b) **Venue—** For the purpose of actions under this section, district courts of the United States shall be deemed to have jurisdiction of a [labor organization](/usc/29/402.md?p=i) (1) in the district in which the principal office of such [labor organization](/usc/29/402.md?p=i) is located, or (2) in any district in which its duly authorized [officers](/usc/29/402.md?p=n) or agents are engaged in conducting the affairs of the [trusteeship](/usc/29/402.md?p=h).
- (c) **Presumptions of validity or invalidity of trusteeship—** In any proceeding pursuant to this section a [trusteeship](/usc/29/402.md?p=h) established by a [labor organization](/usc/29/402.md?p=i) in conformity with the procedural requirements of its constitution and bylaws and authorized or ratified after a fair hearing either before the executive board or before such other body as may be provided in accordance with its constitution or bylaws shall be presumed valid for a period of eighteen months from the date of its establishment and shall not be subject to attack during such period except upon clear and convincing proof that the [trusteeship](/usc/29/402.md?p=h) was not established or maintained in good faith for a purpose allowable under [section 462 of this title](/usc/29/462.md). After the expiration of eighteen months the [trusteeship](/usc/29/402.md?p=h) shall be presumed invalid in any such proceeding and its discontinuance shall be decreed unless the [labor organization](/usc/29/402.md?p=i) shall show by clear and convincing proof that the continuation of the [trusteeship](/usc/29/402.md?p=h) is necessary for a purpose allowable under [section 462 of this title](/usc/29/462.md). In the latter event the court may dismiss the complaint or retain jurisdiction of the cause on such conditions and for such period as it deems appropriate.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 86–257, title III, § 304, Sept. 14, 1959, 73 Stat. 531.)