2011 US Code
Title 22 - Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Chapter 6 - FOREIGN DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR OFFICERS (§§ 251 - 259)
Section 254a - Definitions

As used in this Act—

(1) the term “members of a mission” means—

(A) the head of a mission and those members of a mission who are members of the diplomatic staff or who, pursuant to law, are granted equivalent privileges and immunities,

(B) members of the administrative and technical staff of a mission, and

(C) members of the service staff of a mission,

as such terms are defined in Article 1 of the Vienna Convention;

(2) the term “family” means—

(A) the members of the family of a member of a mission described in paragraph (1)(A) who form part of his or her household if they are not nationals of the United States, and

(B) the members of the family of a member of a mission described in paragraph (1)(B) who form part of his or her household if they are not nationals or permanent residents of the United States,

within the meaning of Article 37 of the Vienna Convention;

(3) the term “mission” includes missions within the meaning of the Vienna Convention and any missions representing foreign governments, individually or collectively, which are extended the same privileges and immunities, pursuant to law, as are enjoyed by missions under the Vienna Convention; and

(4) the term “Vienna Convention” means the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of April 18, 1961 (T.I.A.S. numbered 7502; 23 U.S.T. 3227), entered into force with respect to the United States on December 13, 1972.

(Pub. L. 95–393, §2, Sept. 30, 1978, 92 Stat. 808; Pub. L. 97–241, title II, §203(b)(1), Aug. 24, 1982, 96 Stat. 290.)

This Act, referred to in text, means Pub. L. 95–393, Sept. 30, 1978, 92 Stat. 808, as amended, known as the Diplomatic Relations Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note below and Tables.

1982—Par. (1)(A). Pub. L. 97–241 substituted “those members of a mission who are members of the diplomatic staff or who, pursuant to law, are granted equivalent privileges and immunities” for “members of the diplomatic staff of a mission”.

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–241 effective Oct. 1, 1982, see section 204 of Pub. L. 97–241, set out as an Effective Date note under section 4301 of this title.

Section 9 of Pub. L. 95–393 provided that: “This Act [see Short Title note below] shall take effect at the end of the ninety-day period beginning on the date of its enactment [Sept. 30, 1978]”.

Section 1 of Pub. L. 95–393 provided that: “This Act [enacting this section, sections 254b to 254e of this title, and section 1364 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, amending sections 1251 and 1351 of Title 28, repealing sections 252 to 254 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under this section] may be cited as the ‘Diplomatic Relations Act’.”