§ 232. — 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: 18USC232]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 12--CIVIL DISORDERS
Sec. 232. Definitions
For purposes of this chapter:
(1) The term ``civil disorder'' means any public disturbance
involving acts of violence by assemblages of three or more persons,
which causes an immediate danger of or results in damage or injury to
the property or person of any other individual.
(2) The term ``commerce'' means commerce (A) between any State or
the District of Columbia and any place outside thereof; (B) between
points within any State or the District of Columbia, but through any
place outside thereof; or (C) wholly within the District of Columbia.
(3) The term ``federally protected function'' means any function,
operation, or action carried out, under the laws of the United States,
by any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States or by
an officer or employee thereof; and such term shall specifically
include, but not be limited to, the collection and distribution of the
United States mails.
(4) The term ``firearm'' means any weapon which is designed to or
may readily be converted to expel any projectile by the action of an
explosive; or the frame or receiver of any such weapon.
(5) The term ``explosive or incendiary device'' means (A) dynamite
and all other forms of high explosives, (B) any explosive bomb, grenade,
missile, or similar device, and (C) any incendiary bomb or grenade, fire
bomb, or similar device, including any device which (i) consists of or
includes a breakable container including a flammable liquid or compound,
and a wick composed of any material which, when ignited, is capable of
igniting such flammable liquid or compound, and (ii) can be carried or
thrown by one individual acting alone.
(6) The term ``fireman'' means any member of a fire department
(including a volunteer fire department) of any State, any political
subdivision of a State, or the District of Columbia.
(7) The term ``law enforcement officer'' means any officer or
employee of the United States, any State, any political subdivision of a
State, or the District of Columbia, while engaged in the enforcement or
prosecution of any of the criminal laws of the United States, a State,
any political subdivision of a State, or the District of Columbia; and
such term shall specifically include members of the National Guard (as
defined in section 101 of title 10), members of the organized militia of
any State, or territory of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, or the District of Columbia not included within the National Guard
(as defined in section 101 of title 10), and members of the Armed Forces
of the United States, while engaged in suppressing acts of violence or
restoring law and order during a civil disorder.
(8) The term ``State'' includes a State of the United States, and
any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
(Added Pub. L. 90-284, title X, Sec. 1002(a), Apr. 11, 1968, 82 Stat.
91; amended Pub. L. 101-647, title XII, Sec. 1205(a), Nov. 29, 1990, 104
Stat. 4830; Pub. L. 102-484, div. A, title X, Sec. 1051(b)(1), Oct. 23,
1992, 106 Stat. 2498.)
Amendments
1992--Par. (7). Pub. L. 102-484 substituted ``members of the
National Guard (as defined in section 101 of title 10),'' for ``, but
shall not be limited to, members of the National Guard, as defined in
section 101(9) of title 10, United States Code,'' and ``not included
within the National Guard (as defined in section 101 of title 10),'' for
``, not included within the definition of National Guard as defined by
such section 101(9),''.
1990--Par. (8). Pub. L. 101-647 added par. (8).
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 844 of this title; title 49
sections 5117, 40113.
