Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 201 (July 11, 1919, ch. 6, § 6, 41 Stat. 68).

Reference to “department” and “agency” was added in three instances after the words “United States” to remove doubt as to the scope of the section. (See definitions of “department” and “agency” in section 6 of this title.)

Reference to the offense as a misdemeanor was omitted as unnecessary in view of the definitive section 1 of this title.

Words “on conviction thereof” were omitted as surplusage since punishment can be imposed only after conviction.

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

2002—Pub. L. 107–273 substituted “a jurisdiction, or an official of any government, to favor, adopt,” for “to favor”, inserted “, law, ratification, policy,” after “legislation” wherever appearing, struck out “by Congress” before “, whether before or after”, inserted “, measure,” before “or resolution”, substituted “any such Member or official, at his request,” for “Members of Congress on the request of any Member”, inserted “or such official” before “, through the proper”, substituted “for any legislation” for “for legislation”, substituted “, or from making any communication whose prohibition by this section might, in the opinion of the Attorney General, violate the Constitution or interfere with the conduct of foreign policy, counter-intelligence, intelligence, or national security activities. Violations of this section shall constitute violations of section 1352(a) of title 31.” for period at end of first par., and struck out last par. which read as follows: “Whoever, being an officer or employee of the United States or of any department or agency thereof, violates or attempts to violate this section, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and after notice and hearing by the superior officer vested with the power of removing him, shall be removed from office or employment.”

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $500” in last par.