§ 44. — Definitions.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC44]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 2--FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION; PROMOTION OF EXPORT TRADE AND
PREVENTION OF UNFAIR METHODS OF COMPETITION
SUBCHAPTER I--FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
Sec. 44. Definitions
The words defined in this section shall have the following meaning
when found in this subchapter, to wit:
``Commerce'' means commerce among the several States or with foreign
nations, or in any Territory of the United States or in the District of
Columbia, or between any such Territory and another, or between any such
Territory and any State or foreign nation, or between the District of
Columbia and any State or Territory or foreign nation.
``Corporation'' shall be deemed to include any company, trust, so-
called Massachusetts trust, or association, incorporated or
unincorporated, which is organized to carry on business for its own
profit or that of its members, and has shares of capital or capital
stock or certificates of interest, and any company, trust, so-called
Massachusetts trust, or association, incorporated or unincorporated,
without shares of capital or capital stock or certificates of interest,
except partnerships, which is organized to carry on business for its own
profit or that of its members.
``Documentary evidence'' includes all documents, papers,
correspondence, books of account, and financial and corporate records.
``Acts to regulate commerce'' means subtitle IV of title 49 and the
Communications Act of 1934 [47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.] and all Acts
amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto.
``Antitrust Acts'' means the Act entitled ``An Act to protect trade
and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies'', approved July
2, 1890; also sections 73 to 76, inclusive, of an Act entitled ``An Act
to reduce taxation, to provide revenue for the Government, and for other
purposes'', approved August 27, 1894; also the Act entitled ``An Act to
amend sections 73 and 76 of the Act of August 27, 1894, entitled `An Act
to reduce taxation, to provide revenue for the Government, and for other
purposes' '', approved February 12, 1913; and also the Act entitled ``An
Act to supplement existing laws against unlawful restraints and
monopolies, and for other purposes'', approved October 15, 1914.
``Banks'' means the types of banks and other financial institutions
referred to in section 57a(f)(2) of this title.
(Sept. 26, 1914, ch. 311, Sec. 4, 38 Stat. 719; Mar. 21, 1938, ch. 49,
Sec. 2, 52 Stat. 111; Pub. L. 102-242, title II, Sec. 212(g)(1), Dec.
19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2302; Pub. L. 107-273, div. C, title IV,
Sec. 14102(c)(2)(B), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1921.)
References in Text
The Communications Act of 1934, referred to in text, is act June 19,
1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, as amended, which is classified
principally to chapter 5 (Sec. 151 et seq.) of Title 47, Telegraphs,
Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs. For complete classification of this Act
to the Code, see section 609 of Title 47 and Tables.
The Act entitled ``An Act to protect trade and commerce against
unlawful restraints and monopolies,'' approved July 2, 1890, referred to
in the text, is known as the Sherman Act, and is classified to sections
1 to 7 of this title.
Sections 73 to 76, inclusive, of an Act entitled ``An Act to reduce
taxation, to provide revenue for the Government, and for other
purposes'', approved August 27, 1894, referred to in text, are known as
the Wilson Tariff Act. Sections 73 to 76 are classified to sections 8 to
11 of this title.
Act February 12, 1913, is set out as amendments to sections 8 and 11
of this title.
The Act entitled ``An Act to supplement existing laws against
unlawful restraints and monopolies, and for other purposes'', approved
October 15, 1914, referred to in text, is the Clayton Act. For
classification of the Act to the Code, see References in Text note set
out under section 12 of this title.
Codification
``Subtitle IV of title 49'' substituted in text for ``the Act
entitled `An Act to regulate commerce', approved February 14, 1887, and
all Acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto'' on authority of
Pub. L. 95-473, Sec. 3(b), Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1466, the first
section of which enacted subtitle IV of Title 49, Transportation.
Amendments
2002--Pub. L. 107-273 substituted ``73 to 76'' for ``73 to 77'' in
par. defining ``Antitrust Acts''.
1991--Pub. L. 102-242 added par. defining ``Banks''.
1938--Act Mar. 21, 1938, amended section generally.
Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 107-273 effective Nov. 2, 2002, and applicable
only with respect to cases commenced on or after Nov. 2, 2002, see
section 14103 of Pub. L. 107-273, set out as a note under section 3 of
this title.
