Federal Securities Law Research Guide: Statutes

For Federal Rules and Regulations, see the "SEC" tab. 

• Securities Act of 1933  - Often referred to as the "truth in securities" law, the Securities Act of 1933 has two basic objectives:  
  • to require that investors receive financial and other significant information concerning securities being offered for public sale; and
  • to prohibit deceit, misrepresentations, and other fraud in the sale of securities.
     
• Securities Exchange Act of 1934 - This Act created the Securities and Exchange Commission and gives it broad authority over all aspects of the securities industry including the power to register, regulate, and oversee brokerage firms, transfer agents, and clearing agencies as well as the nation's securities self regulatory organizations (SROs).
   
• Trust Indenture Act of 1939  - This Act applies to debt securities such as bonds, debentures, and notes that are offered for public sale.
   
• Investment Company Act of 1940 - This Act regulates the organization of companies, including mutual funds, that engage primarily in investing, reinvesting, and trading in securities, and whose own securities are offered to the investing public.
   
• Investment Advisers Act of 1940 - This law regulates investment advisers. With certain exceptions, this Act requires that firms or sole practitioners compensated for advising others about securities investments must register with the SEC and conform to regulations designed to protect investors.  
   
• Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970 - This law sets up a fund that intended to protect investors against the misappropriation of their funds and of most types of securities in the event of the failure of their broker.
   
• Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 - The Act mandated a number of reforms to enhance corporate responsibility, enhance financial disclosures and combat corporate and accounting fraud, and created the "Public Company Accounting Oversight Board," also known as the PCAOB, to oversee the activities of the auditing profession.
   
• Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 - The legislation set out to reshape the U.S. regulatory system in a number of areas including but not limited to consumer protection, trading restrictions, credit ratings, regulation of financial products, corporate governance and disclosure, and transparency. 
   
• Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (the "JOBS Act") - The JOBS Act aims to help businesses raise funds in public capital markets by minimizing regulatory requirements. 

Federal securities laws are codified in Title 15 of the United States Code. The print version of the US Code is availabable in the Statutory Room on the 2d floor of the BLS Library.

• Chapter 2A. Securities and Trust Indentures 
  • Subchapter I - Domestic Securities §§ 77a-77aa 
  • Subchapter II - Foreign Securities §§ 77bb-77mm
  • Subchapter III - Trust Indentures §§ 77aaa-77bbb)
     
• Chapter 2B. Securities Exchanges (§§ 78a-78ll)
   
• Chapter 2B-1. Securities Investor Protection (§§ 78aaa-78lll)
   
• Chapter 2C. Public Utility Holding Companies (§§ 79-79z-6)
   
• Chapter 2D. Investment Companies and Advisors 
  • ​Subchapter I - Investment Companies §§ 80a-1 - 80a-64 
  • Subchapter II - Investment Advisers §§80b-1 - 80b-21)
     
• Chapter 98. Public Company Accounting Reform and Corporate Responsibility (§§ 7201-7266).  

Note:  15 USC Chapter 2A encompasses the Securities Act of 1933.  15 USC Chapter 2B encompasses the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  

Federal Securities Laws: Legislative History, 1933-1982 

HeinOnline: Legislative History of the Securities Act of 1933 and Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by Compiled by J. S. Ellenberger and Ellen P. Mahar