Espionage is a national security crime that violates which of the following legal provisions?

• A. Title 18 U.S.C., §§ 792-798 and Article 106a, UCMJ
• B. Title 50 U.S.C., § 1801
• C. The FISA Act
• D. The Securities Exchange Act

Answer: (A)

Espionage is defined as a crime by statutes that specifically criminalize obtaining, retaining, or transmitting defense information to aid a foreign power or harm the United States. The primary civilian offenses are found in Title 18 of the United States Code, sections 792 through 798, which cover gathering, transmitting, or losing defense information and related acts tied to national security. For members of the military or those under military jurisdiction, the Uniform Code of Military Justice includes Article 106a, which establishes espionage offenses within the military system and allows prosecution in military courts. Together, these provisions directly address the act of spying and sharing state secrets.

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) handles the legal process for surveilling foreign intelligence targets; it governs how surveillance is conducted rather than defining espionage crimes itself. The Securities Exchange Act relates to securities regulation and has no bearing on national security espionage laws.