CITE

    15 USC Sec. 78f                                             01/08/2008

EXPCITE

    TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
    CHAPTER 2B - SECURITIES EXCHANGES

HEAD

    Sec. 78f. National securities exchanges

STATUTE

    (a) Registration; application
      An exchange may be registered as a national securities exchange
    under the terms and conditions hereinafter provided in this section
    and in accordance with the provisions of section 78s(a) of this
    title, by filing with the Commission an application for
    registration in such form as the Commission, by rule, may prescribe
    containing the rules of the exchange and such other information and
    documents as the Commission, by rule, may prescribe as necessary or
    appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of
    investors.
    (b) Determination by Commission requisite to registration of
      applicant as a national securities exchange
      An exchange shall not be registered as a national securities
    exchange unless the Commission determines that -
        (1) Such exchange is so organized and has the capacity to be
      able to carry out the purposes of this chapter and to comply, and
      (subject to any rule or order of the Commission pursuant to
      section 78q(d) or 78s(g)(2) of this title) to enforce compliance
      by its members and persons associated with its members, with the
      provisions of this chapter, the rules and regulations thereunder,
      and the rules of the exchange.
        (2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this
      section, the rules of the exchange provide that any registered
      broker or dealer or natural person associated with a registered
      broker or dealer may become a member of such exchange and any
      person may become associated with a member thereof.
        (3) The rules of the exchange assure a fair representation of
      its members in the selection of its directors and administration
      of its affairs and provide that one or more directors shall be
      representative of issuers and investors and not be associated
      with a member of the exchange, broker, or dealer.
        (4) The rules of the exchange provide for the equitable
      allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among its
      members and issuers and other persons using its facilities.
        (5) The rules of the exchange are designed to prevent
      fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just
      and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and
      coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing,
      settling, processing information with respect to, and
      facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to
      and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a
      national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and
      the public interest; and are not designed to permit unfair
      discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers,
      or to regulate by virtue of any authority conferred by this
      chapter matters not related to the purposes of this chapter or
      the administration of the exchange.
        (6) The rules of the exchange provide that (subject to any rule
      or order of the Commission pursuant to section 78q(d) or
      78s(g)(2) of this title) its members and persons associated with
      its members shall be appropriately disciplined for violation of
      the provisions of this chapter, the rules or regulations
      thereunder, or the rules of the exchange, by expulsion,
      suspension, limitation of activities, functions, and operations,
      fine, censure, being suspended or barred from being associated
      with a member, or any other fitting sanction.
        (7) The rules of the exchange are in accordance with the
      provisions of subsection (d) of this section, and in general,
      provide a fair procedure for the disciplining of members and
      persons associated with members, the denial of membership to any
      person seeking membership therein, the barring of any person from
      becoming associated with a member thereof, and the prohibition or
      limitation by the exchange of any person with respect to access
      to services offered by the exchange or a member thereof.
        (8) The rules of the exchange do not impose any burden on
      competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the
      purposes of this chapter.
        (9) The rules of the exchange prohibit the listing of any
      security issued in a limited partnership rollup transaction (as
      such term is defined in paragraphs (4) and (5) of section 78n(h)
      of this title), unless such transaction was conducted in
      accordance with procedures designed to protect the rights of
      limited partners, including -
          (A) the right of dissenting limited partners to one of the
        following:
            (i) an appraisal and compensation;
            (ii) retention of a security under substantially the same
          terms and conditions as the original issue;
            (iii) approval of the limited partnership rollup
          transaction by not less than 75 percent of the outstanding
          securities of each of the participating limited partnerships;
            (iv) the use of a committee of limited partners that is
          independent, as determined in accordance with rules
          prescribed by the exchange, of the general partner or
          sponsor, that has been approved by a majority of the
          outstanding units of each of the participating limited
          partnerships, and that has such authority as is necessary to
          protect the interest of limited partners, including the
          authority to hire independent advisors, to negotiate with the
          general partner or sponsor on behalf of the limited partners,
          and to make a recommendation to the limited partners with
          respect to the proposed transaction; or
            (v) other comparable rights that are prescribed by rule by
          the exchange and that are designed to protect dissenting
          limited partners;
          (B) the right not to have their voting power unfairly reduced
        or abridged;
          (C) the right not to bear an unfair portion of the costs of a
        proposed limited partnership rollup transaction that is
        rejected; and
          (D) restrictions on the conversion of contingent interests or
        fees into non-contingent interests or fees and restrictions on
        the receipt of a non-contingent equity interest in exchange for
        fees for services which have not yet been provided.
      As used in this paragraph, the term "dissenting limited partner"
      means a person who, on the date on which soliciting material is
      mailed to investors, is a holder of a beneficial interest in a
      limited partnership that is the subject of a limited partnership
      rollup transaction, and who casts a vote against the transaction
      and complies with procedures established by the exchange, except
      that for purposes of an exchange or tender offer, such person
      shall file an objection in writing under the rules of the
      exchange during the period during which the offer is outstanding.
    (c) Denial of membership in national exchanges; denial of
      association with member; conditions; limitation of membership
      (1) A national securities exchange shall deny membership to (A)
    any person, other than a natural person, which is not a registered
    broker or dealer or (B) any natural person who is not, or is not
    associated with, a registered broker or dealer.
      (2) A national securities exchange may, and in cases in which the
    Commission, by order, directs as necessary or appropriate in the
    public interest or for the protection of investors shall, deny
    membership to any registered broker or dealer or natural person
    associated with a registered broker or dealer, and bar from
    becoming associated with a member any person, who is subject to a
    statutory disqualification. A national securities exchange shall
    file notice with the Commission not less than thirty days prior to
    admitting any person to membership or permitting any person to
    become associated with a member, if the exchange knew, or in the
    exercise of reasonable care should have known, that such person was
    subject to a statutory disqualification. The notice shall be in
    such form and contain such information as the Commission, by rule,
    may prescribe as necessary or appropriate in the public interest or
    for the protection of investors.
      (3)(A) A national securities exchange may deny membership to, or
    condition the membership of, a registered broker or dealer if (i)
    such broker or dealer does not meet such standards of financial
    responsibility or operational capability or such broker or dealer
    or any natural person associated with such broker or dealer does
    not meet such standards of training, experience, and competence as
    are prescribed by the rules of the exchange or (ii) such broker or
    dealer or person associated with such broker or dealer has engaged
    and there is a reasonable likelihood he may again engage in acts or
    practices inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade.
    A national securities exchange may examine and verify the
    qualifications of an applicant to become a member and the natural
    persons associated with such an applicant in accordance with
    procedures established by the rules of the exchange.
      (B) A national securities exchange may bar a natural person from
    becoming a member or associated with a member, or condition the
    membership of a natural person or association of a natural person
    with a member, if such natural person (i) does not meet such
    standards of training, experience, and competence as are prescribed
    by the rules of the exchange or (ii) has engaged and there is a
    reasonable likelihood he may again engage in acts or practices
    inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade. A
    national securities exchange may examine and verify the
    qualifications of an applicant to become a person associated with a
    member in accordance with procedures established by the rules of
    the exchange and require any person associated with a member, or
    any class of such persons, to be registered with the exchange in
    accordance with procedures so established.
      (C) A national securities exchange may bar any person from
    becoming associated with a member if such person does not agree (i)
    to supply the exchange with such information with respect to its
    relationship and dealings with the member as may be specified in
    the rules of the exchange and (ii) to permit the examination of its
    books and records to verify the accuracy of any information so
    supplied.
      (4) A national securities exchange may limit (A) the number of
    members of the exchange and (B) the number of members and
    designated representatives of members permitted to effect
    transactions on the floor of the exchange without the services of
    another person acting as broker: Provided, however, That no
    national securities exchange shall have the authority to decrease
    the number of memberships in such exchange, or the number of
    members and designated representatives of members permitted to
    effect transactions on the floor of such exchange without the
    services of another person acting as broker, below such number in
    effect on May 1, 1975, or the date such exchange was registered
    with the Commission, whichever is later: And provided further, That
    the Commission, in accordance with the provisions of section 78s(c)
    of this title, may amend the rules of any national securities
    exchange to increase (but not to decrease) or to remove any
    limitation on the number of memberships in such exchange or the
    number of members or designated representatives of members
    permitted to effect transactions on the floor of the exchange
    without the services of another person acting as broker, if the
    Commission finds that such limitation imposes a burden on
    competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the
    purposes of this chapter.
    (d) Discipline of national securities exchange members and persons
      associated with members; summary proceedings
      (1) In any proceeding by a national securities exchange to
    determine whether a member or person associated with a member
    should be disciplined (other than a summary proceeding pursuant to
    paragraph (3) of this subsection), the exchange shall bring
    specific charges, notify such member or person of, and give him an
    opportunity to defend against, such charges, and keep a record. A
    determination by the exchange to impose a disciplinary sanction
    shall be supported by a statement setting forth -
        (A) any act or practice in which such member or person
      associated with a member has been found to have engaged, or which
      such member or person has been found to have omitted;
        (B) the specific provision of this chapter, the rules or
      regulations thereunder, or the rules of the exchange which any
      such act or practice, or omission to act, is deemed to violate;
      and
        (C) the sanction imposed and the reasons therefor.
      (2) In any proceeding by a national securities exchange to
    determine whether a person shall be denied membership, barred from
    becoming associated with a member, or prohibited or limited with
    respect to access to services offered by the exchange or a member
    thereof (other than a summary proceeding pursuant to paragraph (3)
    of this subsection), the exchange shall notify such person of, and
    give him an opportunity to be heard upon, the specific grounds for
    denial, bar, or prohibition or limitation under consideration and
    keep a record. A determination by the exchange to deny membership,
    bar a person from becoming associated with a member, or prohibit or
    limit a person with respect to access to services offered by the
    exchange or a member thereof shall be supported by a statement
    setting forth the specific grounds on which the denial, bar, or
    prohibition or limitation is based.
      (3) A national securities exchange may summarily (A) suspend a
    member or person associated with a member who has been and is
    expelled or suspended from any self-regulatory organization or
    barred or suspended from being associated with a member of any self-
    regulatory organization, (B) suspend a member who is in such
    financial or operating difficulty that the exchange determines and
    so notifies the Commission that the member cannot be permitted to
    continue to do business as a member with safety to investors,
    creditors, other members, or the exchange, or (C) limit or prohibit
    any person with respect to access to services offered by the
    exchange if subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph is applicable
    to such person or, in the case of a person who is not a member, if
    the exchange determines that such person does not meet the
    qualification requirements or other prerequisites for such access
    and such person cannot be permitted to continue to have such access
    with safety to investors, creditors, members, or the exchange. Any
    person aggrieved by any such summary action shall be promptly
    afforded an opportunity for a hearing by the exchange in accordance
    with the provisions of paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection. The
    Commission, by order, may stay any such summary action on its own
    motion or upon application by any person aggrieved thereby, if the
    Commission determines summarily or after notice and opportunity for
    hearing (which hearing may consist solely of the submission of
    affidavits or presentation of oral arguments) that such stay is
    consistent with the public interest and the protection of
    investors.
    (e) Commissions, allowances, discounts, and other fees
      (1) On and after June 4, 1975, no national securities exchange
    may impose any schedule or fix rates of commissions, allowances,
    discounts, or other fees to be charged by its members: Provided,
    however, That until May 1, 1976, the preceding provisions of this
    paragraph shall not prohibit any such exchange from imposing or
    fixing any schedule of commissions, allowances, discounts, or other
    fees to be charged by its members for acting as broker on the floor
    of the exchange or as odd-lot dealer: And provided further, That
    the Commission, in accordance with the provisions of section 78s(b)
    of this title as modified by the provisions of paragraph (3) of
    this subsection, may -
        (A) permit a national securities exchange, by rule, to impose a
      reasonable schedule or fix reasonable rates of commissions,
      allowances, discounts, or other fees to be charged by its members
      for effecting transactions on such exchange prior to November 1,
      1976, if the Commission finds that such schedule or fixed rates
      of commissions, allowances, discounts, or other fees are in the
      public interest; and
        (B) permit a national securities exchange, by rule, to impose a
      schedule or fix rates of commissions, allowances, discounts, or
      other fees to be charged by its members for effecting
      transactions on such exchange after November 1, 1976, if the
      Commission finds that such schedule or fixed rates of
      commissions, allowances, discounts, or other fees (i) are
      reasonable in relation to the costs of providing the service for
      which such fees are charged (and the Commission publishes the
      standards employed in adjudging reasonableness) and (ii) do not
      impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in
      furtherance of the purposes of this chapter, taking into
      consideration the competitive effects of permitting such schedule
      or fixed rates weighed against the competitive effects of other
      lawful actions which the Commission is authorized to take under
      this chapter.
      (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 78s(c) of this
    title, the Commission, by rule, may abrogate any exchange rule
    which imposes a schedule or fixes rates of commissions, allowances,
    discounts, or other fees, if the Commission determines that such
    schedule or fixed rates are no longer reasonable, in the public
    interest, or necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.
      (3)(A) Before approving or disapproving any proposed rule change
    submitted by a national securities exchange which would impose a
    schedule or fix rates of commissions, allowances, discounts, or
    other fees to be charged by its members for effecting transactions
    on such exchange, the Commission shall afford interested persons
    (i) an opportunity for oral presentation of data, views, and
    arguments and (ii) with respect to any such rule concerning
    transactions effected after November 1, 1976, if the Commission
    determines there are disputed issues of material fact, to present
    such rebuttal submissions and to conduct (or have conducted under
    subparagraph (B) of this paragraph) such cross-examination as the
    Commission determines to be appropriate and required for full
    disclosure and proper resolution of such disputed issues of
    material fact.
      (B) The Commission shall prescribe rules and make rulings
    concerning any proceeding in accordance with subparagraph (A) of
    this paragraph designed to avoid unnecessary costs or delay. Such
    rules or rulings may (i) impose reasonable time limits on each
    interested person's oral presentations, and (ii) require any cross-
    examination to which a person may be entitled under subparagraph
    (A) of this paragraph to be conducted by the Commission on behalf
    of that person in such manner as the Commission determines to be
    appropriate and required for full disclosure and proper resolution
    of disputed issues of material fact.
      (C)(i) If any class of persons, the members of which are entitled
    to conduct (or have conducted) cross-examination under
    subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph and which have, in the
    view of the Commission, the same or similar interests in the
    proceeding, cannot agree upon a single representative of such
    interests for purposes of cross-examination, the Commission may
    make rules and rulings specifying the manner in which such
    interests shall be represented and such cross-examination
    conducted.
      (ii) No member of any class of persons with respect to which the
    Commission has specified the manner in which its interests shall be
    represented pursuant to clause (i) of this subparagraph shall be
    denied, pursuant to such clause (i), the opportunity to conduct (or
    have conducted) cross-examination as to issues affecting his
    particular interests if he satisfies the Commission that he has
    made a reasonable and good faith effort to reach agreement upon
    group representation and there are substantial and relevant issues
    which would not be presented adequately by group representation.
      (D) A transcript shall be kept of any oral presentation and cross-
    examination.
      (E) In addition to the bases specified in section 78y(a) of this
    title, a reviewing Court may set aside an order of the Commission
    under section 78s(b) of this title approving an exchange rule
    imposing a schedule or fixing rates of commissions, allowances,
    discounts, or other fees, if the Court finds -
        (1) a Commission determination under subparagraph (A) of this
      paragraph that an interested person is not entitled to conduct
      cross-examination or make rebuttal submissions, or
        (2) a Commission rule or ruling under subparagraph (B) of this
      paragraph limiting the petitioner's cross-examination or rebuttal
      submissions,
    has precluded full disclosure and proper resolution of disputed
    issues of material fact which were necessary for fair determination
    by the Commission.
    (f) Compliance of non-members with exchange rules
      The Commission, by rule or order, as it deems necessary or
    appropriate in the public interest and for the protection of
    investors, to maintain fair and orderly markets, or to assure equal
    regulation, may require -
        (1) any person not a member or a designated representative of a
      member of a national securities exchange effecting transactions
      on such exchange without the services of another person acting as
      a broker, or
        (2) any broker or dealer not a member of a national securities
      exchange effecting transactions on such exchange on a regular
      basis,
    to comply with such rules of such exchange as the Commission may
    specify.
    (g) Notice registration of security futures product exchanges
      (1) Registration required
        An exchange that lists or trades security futures products may
      register as a national securities exchange solely for the
      purposes of trading security futures products if -
          (A) the exchange is a board of trade, as that term is defined
        by the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1a(2)) [7 U.S.C. 1 et
        seq.], that -
            (i) has been designated a contract market by the Commodity
          Futures Trading Commission and such designation is not
          suspended by order of the Commodity Futures Trading
          Commission; or
            (ii) is registered as a derivative transaction execution
          facility under section 5a of the Commodity Exchange Act [7
          U.S.C. 7a] and such registration is not suspended by the
          Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and
          (B) such exchange does not serve as a market place for
        transactions in securities other than -
            (i) security futures products; or
            (ii) futures on exempted securities or groups or indexes of
          securities or options thereon that have been authorized under
          section 2(a)(1)(C) of the Commodity Exchange Act [7 U.S.C.
          2(a)(1)(C)].
      (2) Registration by notice filing
        (A) Form and content
          An exchange required to register only because such exchange
        lists or trades security futures products may register for
        purposes of this section by filing with the Commission a
        written notice in such form as the Commission, by rule, may
        prescribe containing the rules of the exchange and such other
        information and documents concerning such exchange, comparable
        to the information and documents required for national
        securities exchanges under subsection (a) of this section, as
        the Commission, by rule, may prescribe as necessary or
        appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of
        investors. If such exchange has filed documents with the
        Commodity Futures Trading Commission, to the extent that such
        documents contain information satisfying the Commission's
        informational requirements, copies of such documents may be
        filed with the Commission in lieu of the required written
        notice.
        (B) Immediate effectiveness
          Such registration shall be effective contemporaneously with
        the submission of notice, in written or electronic form, to the
        Commission, except that such registration shall not be
        effective if such registration would be subject to suspension
        or revocation.
        (C) Termination
          Such registration shall be terminated immediately if any of
        the conditions for registration set forth in this subsection
        are no longer satisfied.
      (3) Public availability
        The Commission shall promptly publish in the Federal Register
      an acknowledgment of receipt of all notices the Commission
      receives under this subsection and shall make all such notices
      available to the public.
      (4) Exemption of exchanges from specified provisions
        (A) Transaction exemptions
          An exchange that is registered under paragraph (1) of this
        subsection shall be exempt from, and shall not be required to
        enforce compliance by its members with, and its members shall
        not, solely with respect to those transactions effected on such
        exchange in security futures products, be required to comply
        with, the following provisions of this chapter and the rules
        thereunder:
            (i) Subsections (b)(2), (b)(3), (b)(4), (b)(7), (b)(9),
          (c), (d), and (e) of this section.
            (ii) Section 78h of this title.
            (iii) Section 78k of this title.
            (iv) Subsections (d), (f), and (k) of section 78q of this
          title.
            (v) Subsections (a), (f), and (h) of section 78s of this
          title.
        (B) Rule change exemptions
          An exchange that registered under paragraph (1) of this
        subsection shall also be exempt from submitting proposed rule
        changes pursuant to section 78s(b) of this title, except that -
            (i) such exchange shall file proposed rule changes related
          to higher margin levels, fraud or manipulation,
          recordkeeping, reporting, listing standards, or decimal
          pricing for security futures products, sales practices for
          security futures products for persons who effect transactions
          in security futures products, or rules effectuating such
          exchange's obligation to enforce the securities laws pursuant
          to section 78s(b)(7) of this title;
            (ii) such exchange shall file pursuant to sections
          78s(b)(1) and 78s(b)(2) of this title proposed rule changes
          related to margin, except for changes resulting in higher
          margin levels; and
            (iii) such exchange shall file pursuant to section
          78s(b)(1) of this title proposed rule changes that have been
          abrogated by the Commission pursuant to section 78s(b)(7)(C)
          of this title.
      (5) Trading in security futures products
        (A) In general
          Subject to subparagraph (B), it shall be unlawful for any
        person to execute or trade a security futures product until the
        later of -
            (i) 1 year after December 21, 2000; or
            (ii) such date that a futures association registered under
          section 17 of the Commodity Exchange Act [7 U.S.C. 21] has
          met the requirements set forth in section 78o-3(k)(2) of this
          title.
        (B) Principal-to-principal transactions
          Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a person may execute or
        trade a security futures product transaction if -
            (i) the transaction is entered into -
              (I) on a principal-to-principal basis between parties
            trading for their own accounts or as described in section
            1a(12)(B)(ii) of the Commodity Exchange Act [7 U.S.C.
            1a(12)(B)(ii)]; and
              (II) only between eligible contract participants (as
            defined in subparagraphs (A), (B)(ii), and (C) of such
            section 1a(12) [7 U.S.C. 1a(12)(A), (B)(ii), (C)]) at the
            time at which the persons enter into the agreement,
            contract, or transaction; and
            (ii) the transaction is entered into on or after the later
          of -
              (I) 8 months after December 21, 2000; or
              (II) such date that a futures association registered
            under section 17 of the Commodity Exchange Act [7 U.S.C.
            21] has met the requirements set forth in section 78o-
            3(k)(2) of this title.
    (h) Trading in security futures products
      (1) Trading on exchange or association required
        It shall be unlawful for any person to effect transactions in
      security futures products that are not listed on a national
      securities exchange or a national securities association
      registered pursuant to section 78o-3(a) of this title.
      (2) Listing standards required
        Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (7), a national
      securities exchange or a national securities association
      registered pursuant to section 78o-3(a) of this title may trade
      only security futures products that (A) conform with listing
      standards that such exchange or association files with the
      Commission under section 78s(b) of this title and (B) meet the
      criteria specified in section 2(a)(1)(D)(i) of the Commodity
      Exchange Act [7 U.S.C. 2(a)(1)(D)(i)].
      (3) Requirements for listing standards and conditions for trading
        Such listing standards shall -
          (A) except as otherwise provided in a rule, regulation, or
        order issued pursuant to paragraph (4), require that any
        security underlying the security future, including each
        component security of a narrow-based security index, be
        registered pursuant to section 78l of this title;
          (B) require that if the security futures product is not cash
        settled, the market on which the security futures product is
        traded have arrangements in place with a registered clearing
        agency for the payment and delivery of the securities
        underlying the security futures product;
          (C) be no less restrictive than comparable listing standards
        for options traded on a national securities exchange or
        national securities association registered pursuant to section
        78o-3(a) of this title;
          (D) except as otherwise provided in a rule, regulation, or
        order issued pursuant to paragraph (4), require that the
        security future be based upon common stock and such other
        equity securities as the Commission and the Commodity Futures
        Trading Commission jointly determine appropriate;
          (E) require that the security futures product is cleared by a
        clearing agency that has in place provisions for linked and
        coordinated clearing with other clearing agencies that clear
        security futures products, which permits the security futures
        product to be purchased on one market and offset on another
        market that trades such product;
          (F) require that only a broker or dealer subject to
        suitability rules comparable to those of a national securities
        association registered pursuant to section 78o-3(a) of this
        title effect transactions in the security futures product;
          (G) require that the security futures product be subject to
        the prohibition against dual trading in section 4j of the
        Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 6j) and the rules and
        regulations thereunder or the provisions of section 78k(a) of
        this title and the rules and regulations thereunder, except to
        the extent otherwise permitted under this chapter and the rules
        and regulations thereunder;
          (H) require that trading in the security futures product not
        be readily susceptible to manipulation of the price of such
        security futures product, nor to causing or being used in the
        manipulation of the price of any underlying security, option on
        such security, or option on a group or index including such
        securities;
          (I) require that procedures be in place for coordinated
        surveillance among the market on which the security futures
        product is traded, any market on which any security underlying
        the security futures product is traded, and other markets on
        which any related security is traded to detect manipulation and
        insider trading;
          (J) require that the market on which the security futures
        product is traded has in place audit trails necessary or
        appropriate to facilitate the coordinated surveillance required
        in subparagraph (I);
          (K) require that the market on which the security futures
        product is traded has in place procedures to coordinate trading
        halts between such market and any market on which any security
        underlying the security futures product is traded and other
        markets on which any related security is traded; and
          (L) require that the margin requirements for a security
        futures product comply with the regulations prescribed pursuant
        to section 78g(c)(2)(B) of this title, except that nothing in
        this subparagraph shall be construed to prevent a national
        securities exchange or national securities association from
        requiring higher margin levels for a security futures product
        when it deems such action to be necessary or appropriate.
      (4) Authority to modify certain listing standard requirements
        (A) Authority to modify
          The Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission,
        by rule, regulation, or order, may jointly modify the listing
        standard requirements specified in subparagraph (A) or (D) of
        paragraph (3) to the extent such modification fosters the
        development of fair and orderly markets in security futures
        products, is necessary or appropriate in the public interest,
        and is consistent with the protection of investors.
        (B) Authority to grant exemptions
          The Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission,
        by order, may jointly exempt any person from compliance with
        the listing standard requirement specified in subparagraph (E)
        of paragraph (3) to the extent such exemption fosters the
        development of fair and orderly markets in security futures
        products, is necessary or appropriate in the public interest,
        and is consistent with the protection of investors.
      (5) Requirements for other persons trading security future
        products
        It shall be unlawful for any person (other than a national
      securities exchange or a national securities association
      registered pursuant to section 78o-3(a) of this title) to
      constitute, maintain, or provide a marketplace or facilities for
      bringing together purchasers and sellers of security future
      products or to otherwise perform with respect to security future
      products the functions commonly performed by a stock exchange as
      that term is generally understood, unless a national securities
      association registered pursuant to section 78o-3(a) of this title
      or a national securities exchange of which such person is a
      member -
          (A) has in place procedures for coordinated surveillance
        among such person, the market trading the securities underlying
        the security future products, and other markets trading related
        securities to detect manipulation and insider trading;
          (B) has rules to require audit trails necessary or
        appropriate to facilitate the coordinated surveillance required
        in subparagraph (A); and
          (C) has rules to require such person to coordinate trading
        halts with markets trading the securities underlying the
        security future products and other markets trading related
        securities.
      (6) Deferral of options on security futures trading
        No person shall offer to enter into, enter into, or confirm the
      execution of any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege on a
      security future, except that, after 3 years after December 21,
      2000, the Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
      may by order jointly determine to permit trading of puts, calls,
      straddles, options, or privileges on any security future
      authorized to be traded under the provisions of this chapter and
      the Commodity Exchange Act [7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.].
      (7) Deferral of linked and coordinated clearing
        (A) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), until the compliance date, a
      national securities exchange or national securities association
      registered pursuant to section 78o-3(a) of this title may trade a
      security futures product that does not -
          (i) conform with any listing standard promulgated to meet the
        requirement specified in subparagraph (E) of paragraph (3); or
          (ii) meet the criterion specified in section
        2(a)(1)(D)(i)(IV) of the Commodity Exchange Act [7 U.S.C.
        2(a)(1)(D)(i)(IV)].
        (B) The Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
      shall jointly publish in the Federal Register a notice of the
      compliance date no later than 165 days before the compliance
      date.
        (C) For purposes of this paragraph, the term "compliance date"
      means the later of -
          (i) 180 days after the end of the first full calendar month
        period in which the average aggregate comparable share volume
        for all security futures products based on single equity
        securities traded on all national securities exchanges, any
        national securities associations registered pursuant to section
        78o-3(a) of this title, and all other persons equals or exceeds
        10 percent of the average aggregate comparable share volume of
        options on single equity securities traded on all national
        securities exchanges and any national securities associations
        registered pursuant to section 78o-3(a) of this title; or
          (ii) 2 years after the date on which trading in any security
        futures product commences under this chapter.
    (i) Rules to avoid duplicative regulation of dual registrants
      Consistent with this chapter, each national securities exchange
    registered pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall issue
    such rules as are necessary to avoid duplicative or conflicting
    rules applicable to any broker or dealer registered with the
    Commission pursuant to section 78o(b) of this title (except
    paragraph (11) thereof), that is also registered with the Commodity
    Futures Trading Commission pursuant to section 4f(a) of the
    Commodity Exchange Act [7 U.S.C. 6f(a)] (except paragraph (2)
    thereof), with respect to the application of -
        (1) rules of such national securities exchange of the type
      specified in section 78o(c)(3)(B) of this title involving
      security futures products; and
        (2) similar rules of national securities exchanges registered
      pursuant to subsection (g) of this section and national
      securities associations registered pursuant to section 78o-3(k)
      of this title involving security futures products.
    (j) Procedures and rules for security future products
      A national securities exchange registered pursuant to subsection
    (a) of this section shall implement the procedures specified in
    subsection (h)(5)(A) of this section and adopt the rules specified
    in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subsection (h)(5) of this section
    not later than 8 months after the date of receipt of a request from
    an alternative trading system for such implementation and rules.
    (k) Rules relating to security futures products traded on foreign
      boards of trade
      (1) To the extent necessary or appropriate in the public
    interest, to promote fair competition, and consistent with the
    promotion of market efficiency, innovation, and expansion of
    investment opportunities, the protection of investors, and the
    maintenance of fair and orderly markets, the Commission and the
    Commodity Futures Trading Commission shall jointly issue such
    rules, regulations, or orders as are necessary and appropriate to
    permit the offer and sale of a security futures product traded on
    or subject to the rules of a foreign board of trade to United
    States persons.
      (2) The rules, regulations, or orders adopted under paragraph (1)
    shall take into account, as appropriate, the nature and size of the
    markets that the securities underlying the security futures product
    reflect.

SOURCE

    (June 6, 1934, ch. 404, title I, Sec. 6, 48 Stat. 885; Pub. L. 94-
    29, Sec. 4, June 4, 1975, 89 Stat. 104; Pub. L. 100-181, title
    III, Secs. 309-312, Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1255; Pub. L. 103-202,
    title III, Sec. 303(b), Dec. 17, 1993, 107 Stat. 2365; Pub. L. 106-
    554, Sec. 1(a)(5) [title II, Secs. 202(a), 206(a), (i), (k)(2),
    (l)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-416, 2763A-426, 2763A-
    433, 2763A-434.)

REFERENCES IN TEXT

      This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (b) to (e), (g)(4)(A),
    (h)(3)(G), (7)(C)(ii), and (i), was in the original "this title".
    This chapter, referred to in subsec. (h)(6), was in the original
    "this Act". See References in Text note set out under section 78a
    of this title.
      The Commodity Exchange Act, referred to in subsecs. (g)(1)(A) and
    (h)(6), is act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 369, 42 Stat. 998, as amended,
    which is classified generally to chapter 1 (Sec. 1 et seq.) of
    Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to
    the Code, see section 1 of Title 7 and Tables.

AMENDMENTS

      2000 - Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 106-554, Sec. 1(a)(5) [title II, Sec.
    202(a)], added subsec. (g).
      Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 106-554, Sec. 1(a)(5) [title II, Sec.
    206(a)], added subsec. (h).
      Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 106-554, Sec. 1(a)(5) [title II, Sec.
    206(i)], added subsec. (i).
      Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 106-554, Sec. 1(a)(5) [title II, Sec.
    206(k)(2)], added subsec. (j).
      Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 106-554, Sec. 1(a)(5) [title II, Sec.
    206(l)], added subsec. (k).
      1993 - Subsec. (b)(9). Pub. L. 103-202 added par. (9).
      1987 - Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 100-181, Sec. 309, substituted
    "protection of investors shall" for "protection shall".
      Subsec. (c)(3)(A). Pub. L. 100-181, Sec. 310, substituted
    "associated" for "association".
      Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 100-181, Sec. 311, substituted "may limit
    (A)" for "may (A) limit".
      Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 100-181, Sec. 312(1), substituted
    "paragraph (3) of this subsection" for "paragraph (4) of this
    section".
      Subsec. (e)(3), (4). Pub. L. 100-181, Sec. 312(2), (3),
    redesignated par. (4) as (3) and, in subpar. (E), substituted
    "fixing" for "fixes" in introductory provisions, "subparagraph (A)
    of this paragraph" for "paragraph (4)(A) of this subsection" in cl.
    (1), and "subparagraph (B) of this paragraph" for "paragraph (4)(B)
    of this subsection" in cl. (2), and struck out former par. (3)
    which read as follows: "Until December 31, 1976, the Commission, on
    a regular basis, shall file with the Speaker of the House and the
    President of the Senate information concerning the effect on the
    public interest, protection of investors, and maintenance of fair
    and orderly markets of the absence of any schedule or fixed rates
    of commissions, allowances, discounts, or other fees to be charged
    by members of any national securities exchange for effecting
    transactions on such exchange."
      1975 - Pub. L. 94-29 restructured the entire section and, in
    addition, authorized the Commission to require an exchange to file
    such documents and information as it deems necessary or appropriate
    in the public interest or for the protection of investors and to
    prescribe the form and substance of an exchange's application for
    registration, expanded to eight the number of explicit statutory
    requirements that must be satisfied before an exchange may be
    registered as a national securities exchange, set forth the
    authority of a national securities exchange to admit or deny
    persons membership or association with members, prescribed exchange
    procedures for instituting disciplinary actions, denying
    membership, and summarily suspending members or persons associated
    with members, specified the authority of national securities
    exchanges to impose schedules or fix rates of commissions,
    allowances, discounts, or other fees to be charged by its members
    for transacting business on the exchange, and empowered the
    Commission to regulate any broker or dealer who effects
    transactions on an exchange on a regular basis but who is not a
    member of that exchange and any person who effects transactions on
    an exchange without the services of another person acting as
    broker.
                     EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1993 AMENDMENT
      Section 304 of title III of Pub. L. 103-202 provided that:
      "(a) Effective Date. -
        "(1) In general. - The amendments made by section 303 [amending
      this section and section 78o-3 of this title] shall become
      effective 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec.
      17, 1993].
        "(2) Rulemaking authority. - Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the
      authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission, a registered
      securities association, and a national securities exchange to
      commence rulemaking proceedings for the purpose of issuing rules
      pursuant to the amendments made by section 303 is effective on
      the date of enactment of this Act.
        "(3) Review of filings prior to effective date. - Prior to the
      effective date of regulations promulgated pursuant to this title
      [amending this section and sections 78n and 78o-3 of this title
      and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 78a and
      78n of this title], the Securities and Exchange Commission shall
      continue to review and declare effective registration statements
      and amendments thereto relating to limited partnership rollup
      transactions in accordance with applicable regulations then in
      effect.
      "(b) Effect on Existing Authority. - The amendments made by this
    title [amending this section and sections 78n and 78o-3 of this
    title] shall not limit the authority of the Securities and Exchange
    Commission, a registered securities association, or a national
    securities exchange under any provision of the Securities Exchange
    Act of 1934 [15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.], or preclude the Commission or
    such association or exchange from imposing, under any other such
    provision, a remedy or procedure required to be imposed under such
    amendments."
                     EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1975 AMENDMENT
      Amendment by Pub. L. 94-29 effective June 4, 1975, except for
    amendment of subsecs. (a) through (d) by Pub. L. 94-29 to be
    effective 180 days after June 4, 1975, with provisions of subsecs.
    (b)(2) and (c)(6), as amended by Pub. L. 94-29, or rules or
    regulations thereunder, not to apply in a way so as to deprive any
    person of membership in any national securities exchange (or its
    successor) of which such person was, on June 4, 1975, a member or a
    member firm as defined in the constitution of such exchange, or so
    as to deny membership in any such exchange (or its successor) to a
    natural person who is or becomes associated with such member or
    member firm, see section 31(a) of Pub. L. 94-29, set out as a note
    under section 78b of this title.

TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS

      For transfer of functions of Securities and Exchange Commission,
    with certain exceptions, to Chairman of such Commission, see Reorg.
    Plan No. 10 of 1950, Secs. 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3175,
    64 Stat. 1265, set out under section 78d of this title.

CHANGES IN ORGANIZATION AND RULES OF NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGES AND REGISTERED SECURITIES ASSOCIATIONS

      Section 31(b) of Pub. L. 94-29 provided that: "If it appears to
    the Commission at any time within one year of the effective date of
    any amendment made by this Act [see Short Title of 1975 Amendment
    note under section 78a of this title] to the Securities Exchange
    Act of 1934 that the organization or rules of any national
    securities exchange or registered securities association registered
    with the Commission on the date of enactment of this Act [June 4,
    1975] do not comply with such Act as amended, the Commission shall
    so notify such exchange or association in writing, specifying the
    respects in which the exchange or association is not in compliance
    with such Act. On and after the one hundred eightieth day following
    the date of receipt of such notice by a national securities
    exchange or registered securities association, the Commission,
    without regard to the provisions of section 19(h) of the Securities
    Exchange Act of 1934 [section 78s(h) of this title], as amended by
    this Act, is authorized by order, to suspend the registration of
    any such exchange or association or impose limitations on the
    activities, functions, and operations of any such exchange or
    association, if the Commission finds, after notice and opportunity
    for hearing, that the organization or rules of such exchange or
    association do not comply with such Act. Any such suspension or
    limitation shall continue in effect until the Commission, by order,
    declares that such exchange or association is in compliance with
    such requirements."
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