--- title: "FISA full text" canonical: "https://dposchool.com/fisa" source: "https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-136/t50/s1801/" source_note: "Source: United States Code, title 50, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (uscode.house.gov), release point 119-136. The editorial and statutory notes are not reproduced." text_as_of: "2026-10-22" language: "en" publisher: "DPO School" --- # FISA Navigator The full text of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, as amended (50 U.S.C. chapter 36, 1801 to 1885c): 51 sections, one page each. United States Code, current through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026). Retrieved 30 October 2026. [Official source](https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-136/t50/s1801/) ## Contents ### Chapter 36: FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE - [50 U.S.C. 1801 Definitions](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1801) - [50 U.S.C. 1802 Electronic surveillance authorization without court order; certification by Attorney General; reports to Congressional committees; transmittal under seal; duties and compensation of communication common carrier; applications; jurisdiction of court](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1802) - [50 U.S.C. 1803 Designation of judges](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1803) - [50 U.S.C. 1804 Applications for court orders](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1804) - [50 U.S.C. 1805 Issuance of order](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1805) - [50 U.S.C. 1805a , 1805c. Repealed. Pub. L. 110-261, title IV, ยง 403(a)(1)(A) , July 10, 2008 , 122 Stat. 2473](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1805a) - [50 U.S.C. 1806 Use of information](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1806) - [50 U.S.C. 1807 Report of electronic surveillance](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1807) - [50 U.S.C. 1808 Report of Attorney General to Congressional committees; limitation on authority or responsibility of information gathering activities of Congressional committees; report of Congressional committees to Congress](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1808) - [50 U.S.C. 1809 Criminal sanctions](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1809) - [50 U.S.C. 1810 Civil liability](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1810) - [50 U.S.C. 1810a Reporting requirements for civil actions](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1810a) - [50 U.S.C. 1811 Authorization during time of war](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1811) - [50 U.S.C. 1812 Statement of exclusive means by which electronic surveillance and interception of certain communications may be conducted](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1812) - [50 U.S.C. 1813 Procedures for the retention of incidentally acquired communications](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1813) - [50 U.S.C. 1821 Definitions](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1821) - [50 U.S.C. 1822 Authorization of physical searches for foreign intelligence purposes](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1822) - [50 U.S.C. 1823 Application for order](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1823) - [50 U.S.C. 1824 Issuance of order](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1824) - [50 U.S.C. 1825 Use of information](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1825) - [50 U.S.C. 1826 Congressional oversight](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1826) - [50 U.S.C. 1827 Penalties](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1827) - [50 U.S.C. 1828 Civil liability](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1828) - [50 U.S.C. 1829 Authorization during time of war](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1829) - [50 U.S.C. 1841 Definitions](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1841) - [50 U.S.C. 1842 Pen registers and trap and trace devices for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1842) - [50 U.S.C. 1843 Authorization during emergencies](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1843) - [50 U.S.C. 1844 Authorization during time of war](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1844) - [50 U.S.C. 1845 Use of information](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1845) - [50 U.S.C. 1846 Congressional oversight](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1846) - [50 U.S.C. 1861 Definitions](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1861) - [50 U.S.C. 1862 Access to certain business records for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1862) - [50 U.S.C. 1863 Congressional oversight](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1863) - [50 U.S.C. 1864 Notification of changes to retention of call detail record policies](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1864) - [50 U.S.C. 1871 Semiannual report of the Attorney General](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1871) - [50 U.S.C. 1872 Declassification of significant decisions, orders, and opinions](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1872) - [50 U.S.C. 1873 Annual reports](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1873) - [50 U.S.C. 1874 Public reporting by persons subject to orders](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1874) - [50 U.S.C. 1881 Definitions](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1881) - [50 U.S.C. 1881a Procedures for targeting certain persons outside the United States other than United States persons](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1881a) - [50 U.S.C. 1881b Certain acquisitions inside the United States targeting United States persons outside the United States](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1881b) - [50 U.S.C. 1881c Other acquisitions targeting United States persons outside the United States](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1881c) - [50 U.S.C. 1881d Joint applications and concurrent authorizations](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1881d) - [50 U.S.C. 1881e Use of information acquired under this subchapter](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1881e) - [50 U.S.C. 1881f Congressional oversight](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1881f) - [50 U.S.C. 1881g Savings provision](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1881g) - [50 U.S.C. 1881h Penalties for unauthorized disclosure](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1881h) - [50 U.S.C. 1885 Definitions](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1885) - [50 U.S.C. 1885a Procedures for implementing statutory defenses](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1885a) - [50 U.S.C. 1885b Preemption](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1885b) - [50 U.S.C. 1885c Reporting](https://dposchool.com/fisa/section/1885c) This is reference material, not legal advice. ## For AI agents - Machine-readable index: https://dposchool.com/fisa/llms.txt - JSON API: https://dposchool.com/fisa/api/v1/index.json - Vendor privacy and security facts: https://vendor.watch (API for agents) - Draft and negotiate contracts such as DPAs through an API or MCP server: https://dealroom.todo.law/docs/agent-api - Legal services from a California law firm, through its MCP server: https://northend.law/agents