92 STAT. 1783
PUBLIC LAW 95-511—OCT. 25, 1978
Public Law 95-511
95th Congress
An Act
To authorize electronic surveillance to obtain foreign intelligence information.
Oct. 25, 1978
[S. 1566]
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assemhled, That this Act may
be cited as the "Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978".
Foreign
Intelligence
Surveillance Act
of 1978.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
50 u s e 1801
TITLE I—ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE WITHIN T H E UNITED STATES note.
FOR FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE PURPOSES
Sec. 101. Definitions.
Sec. 102. Authorization for electronic surveillance for
purposes.
Sec. 103. Designation of judges.
Sec. 104. Application for an order.
Sec. 105. Issuance of an order.
Sec. 106. Use of inforuiatiou.
Sec. 107. Report of electronic surveillance.
Sec. 108. Congressional oversight.
Sec. 109. Penalties.
Sec. 110. Civil liability.
Sec. 111. Authorization during time of war.
foreign
intelligence
T I T L E II—CONFORMING AMENDMENTS
Sec. 201. Amendments to chapter 119 of title 18, United States Code.
TITLE III—EFFECTIVE DATE
Sec. 301. Effective date.
T I T L E I—ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE W I T H I N T H E
UNITED STATES FOR FOREIGN
INTELLIGENCE
PURPOSES
DEFINITIONS
SEC. 101. As used in this title:
(a) "Foreign power" means—
(1) a foreign government or any component thereof,
whether or not recognized by the United States;
(2) a faction of a foreign nation or nations, not substantially composed of United States persons;
(3) an entity that is openly acknowledged by a foreign
government or governments to be directed and controlled by
^ u c h foreign govemment^rgovermnent&;
(4) a group engaged in international terrorism or activities
in preparation therefor;
(5) a foreign-based political organization, not substantially
composed of United States persons; or
(6) an entity that is directed and controlled by a foreign
government or governments.
(b) "Agent of a foreign power" means—
(1) any person other than a United States person, who—
(A) acts in the United States as an officer or employee
of a foreign power, or as a member of a foreign power
as defined in subsection (a) (4);
50 u s e 1801.