§ 1602. — Findings and declaration of purpose.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 28USC1602]
TITLE 28--JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
PART IV--JURISDICTION AND VENUE
CHAPTER 97--JURISDICTIONAL IMMUNITIES OF FOREIGN STATES
Sec. 1602. Findings and declaration of purpose
The Congress finds that the determination by United States courts of
the claims of foreign states to immunity from the jurisdiction of such
courts would serve the interests of justice and would protect the rights
of both foreign states and litigants in United States courts. Under
international law, states are not immune from the jurisdiction of
foreign courts insofar as their commercial activities are concerned, and
their commercial property may be levied upon for the satisfaction of
judgments rendered against them in connection with their commercial
activities. Claims of foreign states to immunity should henceforth be
decided by courts of the United States and of the States in conformity
with the principles set forth in this chapter.
(Added Pub. L. 94-583, Sec. 4(a), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2892.)
Effective Date
Section 8 of Pub. L. 94-583 provided that: ``This Act [enacting this
chapter and section 1330 of this title, amending sections 1332, 1391,
and 1441 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under
this section and section 1 of this title] shall take effect ninety days
after the date of its enactment [Oct. 21, 1976].''
Short Title
For short title of Pub. L. 94-583 as the ``Foreign Sovereign
Immunities Act of 1976'', see section 1 of Pub. L. 94-583, set out as a
Short Title of 1976 Amendments note under section 1 of this title.
Separability
Section 7 of Pub. L. 94-583 provided that: ``If any provision of
this Act [enacting this chapter and section 1330 of this title, amending
sections 1332, 1391, and 1441 of this title, and enacting provisions set
out as notes under this section and section 1 of this title] or the
application thereof to any foreign state is held invalid, the invalidity
does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act which can be
given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this
end the provisions of this Act are severable.''
