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."