Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 50 : Section 1805


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 1805. Issuance of order

    (a) Necessary findings
      Upon an application made pursuant to section 1804 of this title,
    the judge shall enter an ex parte order as requested or as modified
    approving the electronic surveillance if he finds that - 
        (1) the President has authorized the Attorney General to
      approve applications for electronic surveillance for foreign
      intelligence information;
        (2) the application has been made by a Federal officer and
      approved by the Attorney General;
        (3) on the basis of the facts submitted by the applicant there
      is probable cause to believe that - 
          (A) the target of the electronic surveillance is a foreign
        power or an agent of a foreign power: Provided, That no United
        States person may be considered a foreign power or an agent of
        a foreign power solely upon the basis of activities protected
        by the first amendment to the Constitution of the United
        States; and
          (B) each of the facilities or places at which the electronic
        surveillance is directed is being used, or is about to be used,
        by a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power;

        (4) the proposed minimization procedures meet the definition of
      minimization procedures under section 1804(h) of this title; and
        (5) the application which has been filed contains all
      statements and certifications required by section 1804 of this
      title and, if the target is a United States person, the
      certification or certifications are not clearly erroneous on the
      basis of the statement made under section 1804(a)(7)(E) of this
      title and any other information furnished under section 1804(d)
      of this title.
    (b) Determination of probable cause
      In determining whether or not probable cause exists for purposes
    of an order under subsection (a)(3) of this section, a judge may
    consider past activities of the target, as well as facts and
    circumstances relating to current or future activities of the
    target.
    (c) Specifications and directions of orders
      An order approving an electronic surveillance under this section
    shall - 
        (1) specify - 
          (A) the identity, if known, or a description of the target of
        the electronic surveillance;
          (B) the nature and location of each of the facilities or
        places at which the electronic surveillance will be directed,
        if known;
          (C) the type of information sought to be acquired and the
        type of communications or activities to be subjected to the
        surveillance;
          (D) the means by which the electronic surveillance will be
        effected and whether physical entry will be used to effect the
        surveillance;
          (E) the period of time during which the electronic
        surveillance is approved; and
          (F) whenever more than one electronic, mechanical, or other
        surveillance device is to be used under the order, the
        authorized coverage of the devices involved and what
        minimization procedures shall apply to information subject to
        acquisition by each device; and

        (2) direct - 
          (A) that the minimization procedures be followed;
          (B) that, upon the request of the applicant, a specified
        communication or other common carrier, landlord, custodian, or
        other specified person, or in circumstances where the Court
        finds that the actions of the target of the application may
        have the effect of thwarting the identification of a specified
        person, such other persons, furnish the applicant forthwith all
        information, facilities, or technical assistance necessary to
        accomplish the electronic surveillance in such a manner as will
        protect its secrecy and produce a minimum of interference with
        the services that such carrier, landlord, custodian, or other
        person is providing that target of electronic surveillance;
          (C) that such carrier, landlord, custodian, or other person
        maintain under security procedures approved by the Attorney
        General and the Director of Central Intelligence any records
        concerning the surveillance or the aid furnished that such
        person wishes to retain; and
          (D) that the applicant compensate, at the prevailing rate,
        such carrier, landlord, custodian, or other person for
        furnishing such aid.
    (d) Exclusion of certain information respecting foreign power
      targets
      Whenever the target of the electronic surveillance is a foreign
    power, as defined in section 1801(a)(1), (2), or (3) of this title,
    and each of the facilities or places at which the surveillance is
    directed is owned, leased, or exclusively used by that foreign
    power, the order need not contain the information required by
    subparagraphs (C), (D), and (F) of subsection (c)(1) of this
    section, but shall generally describe the information sought, the
    communications or activities to be subjected to the surveillance,
    and the type of electronic surveillance involved, including whether
    physical entry is required.
    (e) Duration of order; extensions; review of circumstances under
      which information was acquired, retained or disseminated
      (1) An order issued under this section may approve an electronic
    surveillance for the period necessary to achieve its purpose, or
    for ninety days, whichever is less, except that (A) an order under
    this section shall approve an electronic surveillance targeted
    against a foreign power, as defined in section 1801(a)(1), (2), or
    (3) of this title, for the period specified in the application or
    for one year, whichever is less, and (B) an order under this
    chapter for a surveillance targeted against an agent of a foreign
    power, as defined in section 1801(b)(1)(A) of this title may be for
    the period specified in the application or for 120 days, whichever
    is less.
      (2) Extensions of an order issued under this subchapter may be
    granted on the same basis as an original order upon an application
    for an extension and new findings made in the same manner as
    required for an original order, except that (A) an extension of an
    order under this chapter for a surveillance targeted against a
    foreign power, as defined in section 1801(a)(5) or (6) of this
    title, or against a foreign power as defined in section 1801(a)(4)
    of this title that is not a United States person, may be for a
    period not to exceed one year if the judge finds probable cause to
    believe that no communication of any individual United States
    person will be acquired during the period, and (B) an extension of
    an order under this chapter for a surveillance targeted against an
    agent of a foreign power as defined in section 1801(b)(1)(A) of
    this title may be for a period not to exceed 1 year.
      (3) At or before the end of the period of time for which
    electronic surveillance is approved by an order or an extension,
    the judge may assess compliance with the minimization procedures by
    reviewing the circumstances under which information concerning
    United States persons was acquired, retained, or disseminated.
    (f) Emergency orders
      Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, when the
    Attorney General reasonably determines that - 
        (1) an emergency situation exists with respect to the
      employment of electronic surveillance to obtain foreign
      intelligence information before an order authorizing such
      surveillance can with due diligence be obtained; and
        (2) the factual basis for issuance of an order under this
      subchapter to approve such surveillance exists;

    he may authorize the emergency employment of electronic
    surveillance if a judge having jurisdiction under section 1803 of
    this title is informed by the Attorney General or his designee at
    the time of such authorization that the decision has been made to
    employ emergency electronic surveillance and if an application in
    accordance with this subchapter is made to that judge as soon as
    practicable, but not more than 72 hours after the Attorney General
    authorizes such surveillance. If the Attorney General authorizes
    such emergency employment of electronic surveillance, he shall
    require that the minimization procedures required by this
    subchapter for the issuance of a judicial order be followed. In the
    absence of a judicial order approving such electronic surveillance,
    the surveillance shall terminate when the information sought is
    obtained, when the application for the order is denied, or after
    the expiration of 72 hours from the time of authorization by the
    Attorney General, whichever is earliest. In the event that such
    application for approval is denied, or in any other case where the
    electronic surveillance is terminated and no order is issued
    approving the surveillance, no information obtained or evidence
    derived from such surveillance shall be received in evidence or
    otherwise disclosed in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding in
    or before any court, grand jury, department, office, agency,
    regulatory body, legislative committee, or other authority of the
    United States, a State, or political subdivision thereof, and no
    information concerning any United States person acquired from such
    surveillance shall subsequently be used or disclosed in any other
    manner by Federal officers or employees without the consent of such
    person, except with the approval of the Attorney General if the
    information indicates a threat of death or serious bodily harm to
    any person. A denial of the application made under this subsection
    may be reviewed as provided in section 1803 of this title.
    (g) Testing of electronic equipment; discovering unauthorized
      electronic surveillance; training of intelligence personnel
      Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, officers,
    employees, or agents of the United States are authorized in the
    normal course of their official duties to conduct electronic
    surveillance not targeted against the communications of any
    particular person or persons, under procedures approved by the
    Attorney General, solely to - 
        (1) test the capability of electronic equipment, if - 
          (A) it is not reasonable to obtain the consent of the persons
        incidentally subjected to the surveillance;
          (B) the test is limited in extent and duration to that
        necessary to determine the capability of the equipment;
          (C) the contents of any communication acquired are retained
        and used only for the purpose of determining the capability of
        the equipment, are disclosed only to test personnel, and are
        destroyed before or immediately upon completion of the test;
        and:
          (D) Provided, That the test may exceed ninety days only with
        the prior approval of the Attorney General;

        (2) determine the existence and capability of electronic
      surveillance equipment being used by persons not authorized to
      conduct electronic surveillance, if - 
          (A) it is not reasonable to obtain the consent of persons
        incidentally subjected to the surveillance;
          (B) such electronic surveillance is limited in extent and
        duration to that necessary to determine the existence and
        capability of such equipment; and
          (C) any information acquired by such surveillance is used
        only to enforce chapter 119 of title 18, or section 605 of
        title 47, or to protect information from unauthorized
        surveillance; or

        (3) train intelligence personnel in the use of electronic
      surveillance equipment, if - 
          (A) it is not reasonable to - 
            (i) obtain the consent of the persons incidentally
          subjected to the surveillance;
            (ii) train persons in the course of surveillances otherwise
          authorized by this subchapter; or
            (iii) train persons in the use of such equipment without
          engaging in electronic surveillance;

          (B) such electronic surveillance is limited in extent and
        duration to that necessary to train the personnel in the use of
        the equipment; and
          (C) no contents of any communication acquired are retained or
        disseminated for any purpose, but are destroyed as soon as
        reasonably possible.
    (h) Retention of certifications, applications and orders
      Certifications made by the Attorney General pursuant to section
    1802(a) of this title and applications made and orders granted
    under this subchapter shall be retained for a period of at least
    ten years from the date of the certification or application.
    (i) Bar to legal action
      No cause of action shall lie in any court against any provider of
    a wire or electronic communication service, landlord, custodian, or
    other person (including any officer, employee, agent, or other
    specified person thereof) that furnishes any information,
    facilities, or technical assistance in accordance with a court
    order or request for emergency assistance under this chapter for
    electronic surveillance or physical search.



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