15 U.S.C. § 57b–1
Civil investigative demands
United States · Title 15 — COMMERCE AND TRADE · Status: effective
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- Citation
- 15 U.S.C. § 57b–1, Civil investigative demands, United States, version 1 as recorded 2026-07-09, yourstate.us, https://yourstate.us/provision/439844
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Full text
For purposes of this section:
The term “antitrust violation” means—
For the purpose of investigations performed pursuant to this section with respect to unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce (within the meaning of section 45(a)(1) of this title); all actions of the Commission taken under section 46 and section 49 of this title shall be conducted pursuant to subsection (c).
Each civil investigative demand for the production of documentary material shall—
Each civil investigative demand for the submission of tangible things shall—
Each civil investigative demand for written reports or answers to questions shall—
Each civil investigative demand for the giving of oral testimony shall—
Service of any civil investigative demand or any enforcement petition filed under this section may be made upon a partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity by—
Service of any civil investigative demand or of any enforcement petition filed under this section may be made upon any natural person by—
Materials received as a result of a civil investigative demand shall be subject to the procedures established in section 57b–2 of this title.
Whenever any person fails to comply with any civil investigative demand duly served upon him under this section, or whenever satisfactory copying or reproduction of material requested pursuant to the demand cannot be accomplished and such person refuses to surrender such material, the Commission, through such officers or attorneys as it may designate, may file, in the district court of the United States for any judicial district in which such person resides, is found, or transacts business, and serve upon such person, a petition for an order of such court for the enforcement of this section. All process of any court to which application may be made as provided in this subsection may be served in any judicial district.
At any time during which any custodian is in custody or control of any documentary material, tangible things, reports, answers to questions, or transcripts of oral testimony given by any person in compliance with any civil investigative demand, such person may file, in the district court of the United States for the judicial district within which the office of such custodian is situated, and serve upon such custodian, a petition for an order of such court requiring the performance by such custodian of any duty imposed upon him by this section or section 57b–2 of this title.
Whenever any petition is filed in any district court of the United States under this section, such court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter so presented, and to enter such order or orders as may be required to carry into effect the provisions of this section. Any final order so entered shall be subject to appeal pursuant to section 1291 of title 28. Any disobedience of any final order entered under this section by any court shall be punished as a contempt of such court.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commission shall have no authority to issue a subpoena or make a demand for information, under authority of this subchapter or any other provision of law, unless such subpoena or demand for information is signed by a Commissioner acting pursuant to a Commission resolution. The Commission shall not delegate the power conferred by this section to sign subpoenas or demands for information to any other person.
The provisions of this section shall not—
Legislative history
The public laws that enacted or amended this section. Tallies are for the whole bill as it passed each chamber — often an omnibus covering far more than this provision — not a vote on this section alone.
- An act to amend the Federal Trade Commission Act to extend the authorization of appropriations contained in such Act, and for other purposes.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- Federal Trade Commission Act Amendments of 1994House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- International Antitrust Enforcement Assistance Act of 1994House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally