Statute I.
Chap. LXXX.—An Act to provide for the publication of the laws of the United States and for other purposes.
Act of May 11, 1820, ch. 92.
The Secretary of State to publish the laws and resolutions and treaties.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, at and during the session of each Congress of the United States, the Secretary for the Department of State shall cause the acts and resolutions passed by Congress at such session, to be published, currently as they are enacted, and as soon as practicable, in not more than one newspaper in the District of Columbia, and in not more than three newspapers in each of the several states, and in not more than three newspapers in each of the several territories of the United States. And he shall also cause to be published, in the like manner, in the said newspapers, or in such of them as he shall for that purpose designate, the public treaties entered into and ratified by the United States.
Amendments of the constitution to be published also with a certificate of the Secretary of State, &c.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That, whenever official notice shall have been received, at the Department of State, that any amendment which heretofore has been, or hereafter may be, proposed to the constitution of the United States, has been adopted, according to the provisions of the constitution, it shall be the duty of the said Secretary of State forthwith to cause the said amendment to be published in the said newspapers authorized to promulgate the laws, with his certificate, specifying the states by which the same may have been adopted, and that the same has become valid, to all intents and purposes, as a part of the constitution of the United States.
Compensation for publication.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the proprietor of every newspaper in which the laws, resolutions, treaties, or amendments, shall be so published, shall receive, as full compensation therefor, at the rate of one dollar for each printed page of the laws, resolutions, and treaties, as published in the pamphlet form in the manner hereinafter directed.In case of wilful omission or unreasonable delay in publishing the laws. And if it shall appear, on the examination of any account, that there has been any unreasonable delay or intentional omission in the publication of the laws aforesaid, the proper accounting officer of the treasury is hereby authorized and required to deduct, from such account, such sum as shall be charged therein for the publication of any laws which shall have been so unreasonably delayed or intentionally omitted. And in any such case it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to discontinue the publication of the laws in the newspaper belonging to such proprietor, and such newspaper shall, in no event, be again authorized, nor shall the proprietor thereof be again employed, to publish the laws of the United States.
The Secretary of State to cause 11,000 copies of the acts, resolutions, treaties, &c., of every session of Congress to be published: to correspond with the revised edition.Distribution of the 11,000 copies.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of State shall cause to be published, at the close of every session of Congress, and as soon as practicable, eleven thousand copies of the acts of Congress at large, including all resolutions passed by Congress, amendments to the constitution adopted, and all public treaties made and ratified since the then last publication of the laws; which copies shall be printed on paper, and in the size of the sheet and type, in a manner to correspond with the late revised edition of the laws, published by Bioren and Co., which copies shall be distributed in the following manner: To every person who has been President of the United States, one copy to each, during their respective lives; to the present and every future President and Vice President, one copy to each, during their lives; one copy to the actual President and Vice President, to be deemed an appurtenant to their offices respectively; to each member of the Senate and House of Representatives, and to each delegate in Congress from any territory, one copy each; twenty copies to the secretary of the Senate, and fifty copies to the clerk of the House of Representatives, for the general use of the committees and members of the respective Houses; to the judges and clerks of the supreme and district courts, and to the marshal and attorney of each district or section of
