[United States Government Manual] [June 01, 2008] [Pages 511-515] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549 Phone, 202-551-7500. Internet, www.sec.gov. Chairman Christopher Cox Commissioners Paul Atkins, Kathleen L. Casey, (2 vacancies) Senior Advisers to the Chairman Stephen DeVine, William Schulz, Paul Wilkinson Director, Office of Legislative and Jonathan W. Burks Intergovernmental Affairs Director, Office of Public Affairs John Nester Director, Office of Investor Kristi Kaepplein Education and Advocacy Secretary Florence E. Harmon, Acting Executive Director Diego T. Ruiz Associate Executive Director, Office Jeffrey Risinger of Human Resources Associate Executive Director, Office Beth Blackwood, of Administrative Services Acting, Cathy English, Acting Associate Executive Director, Office Kristine Chadwick of Financial Management General Counsel Brian G. Cartwright Director, Division of Corporation Finance John W. White Director, Division of Enforcement Linda Chatman Thomsen Director, Division of Investment Management Andrew Donohue Director, Division of Trading and Markets Erik R. Sirri Director, Office of Compliance Inspections and Lori A. Richards Examinations Chief Accountant Conrad Hewitt Chief Administrative Law Judge Brenda P. Murray Chief Economist Chester Spatt Chief Information Officer, Office of Information R. Corey Booth Technology Director, Office of International Affairs Ethiopis Tafara Director, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Deborah K. Balducchi Director, Office of Risk Assessment Jonathan Sokobin [[Page 512]] Inspector General H. David Kotz Director, Office of Interactive Disclosure David M. Blaszkowsky [For the Securities and Exchange Commission statement of organization, see the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 17, Part 200] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Securities and Exchange Commission administers Federal securities laws that seek to provide protection for investors; to ensure that securities markets are fair and honest; and, when necessary, to provide the means to enforce securities laws through sanctions. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was created under authority of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a-78jj) and was organized on July 2, 1934. The Commission serves as adviser to United States district courts in connection with reorganization proceedings for debtor corporations in which there is a substantial public interest. The Commission also has certain responsibilities under section 15 of the Bretton Woods Agreements Act of 1945 (22 U.S.C. 286k-1) and section 851(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (26 U.S.C. 851(e)). The Commission is vested with quasi-judicial functions. Persons aggrieved by its decisions in the exercise of those functions have a right of review by the United States courts of appeals. Activities Full and Fair Disclosure The Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a) requires issuers of securities and their controlling persons making public offerings of securities in interstate commerce or through the mail to file with the Commission registration statements containing financial and other pertinent data about the issuer and the securities being offered. There are limited exemptions, such as government securities, nonpublic offerings, and intrastate offerings, as well as certain offerings not exceeding $1.5 million. The effectiveness of a registration statement may be refused or suspended after a public hearing if the statement contains material misstatements or omissions, thus barring sale of the securities until it is appropriately amended. Regulation of Investment Advisers Persons who, for compensation, engage in the business of advising others with respect to securities must register with the Commission. The Commission is authorized to define what practices are considered fraudulent or deceptive and to prescribe means to prevent those practices. Regulation of Mutual Funds and Other Investment Companies The Commission registers investment companies and regulates their activities to protect investors. The regulation covers sales load, management contracts, composition of boards of directors, and capital structure. The Commission must also determine the fairness of various transactions of investment companies before these actually occur. The Commission may institute court action to enjoin the consummation of mergers and other plans of reorganization of investment companies if such plans are unfair to securities holders. It also may impose sanctions by administrative proceedings against investment company management for violations of the act and other Federal securities laws and file court actions to enjoin acts and practices of management officials involving breaches of fiduciary duty and personal misconduct and to disqualify such officials from office. Regulation of Securities Markets The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 assigns to the Commission broad regulatory responsibilities over the securities markets, the self-regulatory organizations within the securities industry, and persons conducting a business in securities. Persons who execute transactions in securities generally are required to register with the Commission as broker-dealers. Securities exchanges and certain clearing agencies are [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T214669.060 [[Page 514]] required to register with the Commission, and associations of brokers or dealers are permitted to register with the Commission. The Act also provides for the establishment of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board to formulate rules for the municipal securities industry. The Commission oversees the self-regulatory activities of the national securities exchanges and associations, registered clearing agencies, and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board. In addition, the Commission regulates industry professionals, such as securities brokers and dealers, certain municipal securities professionals, government securities brokers and dealers, and transfer agents. Rehabilitation of Failing Corporations In cases of corporate reorganization proceedings administered in Federal courts, the Commission may participate as a statutory party. The principal functions of the Commission are to protect the interests of public investors involved in such cases through efforts to ensure their adequate representation, and to participate in legal and policy issues that are of concern to public investors generally. Representation of Debt Securities Holders The Commission safeguards the interests of purchasers of publicly offered debt securities issued pursuant to trust indentures. Enforcement Activities The Commission's enforcement activities are designed to secure compliance with the Federal securities laws administered by the Commission and the rules and regulations adopted thereunder. These activities include measures to do the following: --compel compliance with the disclosure requirements of the registration and other provisions of the relevant acts; --prevent fraud and deception in the purchase and sale of securities; --obtain court orders enjoining acts and practices that operate as a fraud upon investors or otherwise violate the laws; --suspend or revoke the registrations of brokers, dealers, investment companies, and investment advisers who willfully engage in such acts and practices; --suspend or bar from association persons associated with brokers, dealers, investment companies, and investment advisers who have violated any provision of the Federal securities laws; and --prosecute persons who have engaged in fraudulent activities or other willful violations of those laws. In addition, attorneys, accountants, and other professionals who violate the securities laws face possible loss of their privilege to practice before the Commission. To this end, private investigations are conducted into complaints or other indications of securities violations. Evidence thus established of law violations is used in appropriate administrative proceedings to revoke registration or in actions instituted in Federal courts to restrain or enjoin such activities. Where the evidence tends to establish criminal fraud or other willful violation of the securities laws, the facts are referred to the Attorney General for criminal prosecution of the offenders. The Commission may assist in such prosecutions. Regional Offices--Securities and Exchange Commission ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- City Address Director Telephone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New York, NY.................... 3 World Financial Ctr., 200 Mark K. Schonfeld 212-336-1100 Vesey St., 10281-1022 Boston, MA...................... 23d Fl., 33 Arch St., 02110- David Bergers 617-573-8900 1424 Philadelphia, PA................ Suite 2000, 701 Market St., Daniel M. Hawke 215-597-3100 19106-1532 Miami, FL....................... Suite 1800, 801 Brickell Ave., David P. Nelson (R) 305-982-6300 33131 Atlanta, GA..................... Suite 1000, 3475 Lenox Rd. Katherine Addleman 404-842-7600 NE., 30326-1232 Chicago, IL..................... Suite 900, 175 W. Jackson Merri Jo Gillette 312-353-7390 Blvd., 60604 Denver, CO...................... Suite 1500, 1801 California George Curtis 303-844-1000 St., 80202-2656 Fort Worth, TX.................. Suite 1900, 801 Cherry St., Rose Romero 817-978-3821 76102-6882 [[Page 515]] Salt Lake City, UT.............. Suite 1800, 15 W. South Temple Kenneth D. Israel, Jr. 801-524-5796 St., 84101 Los Angeles, CA................. Suite 1100, 5670 Wilshire Rosalind Tyson 323-965-3998 Blvd., 90036-3648 San Francisco, CA............... Suite 1100, 44 Montgomery St., Marc J. Fagel 415-705-2500 94104 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sources of Information Inquiries regarding the following matters should be directed to the appropriate office, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549. Contracts Inquiries regarding SEC procurement and contracting activities should be directed to the Office of Administrative Services. Phone, 202-551-7400. Electronic Access Information on the Commission is available through the Internet at www.sec.gov. Employment With the exception of the attorney category, positions are in the competitive civil service, which means applicants must apply for consideration for a particular vacancy and go through competitive selection procedures. The Commission operates a college and law school recruitment program, including on-campus visitations for interview purposes. Inquiries should be directed to the Office of Human Resources. Phone, 202-942-7500. Fax, 703-914-0592. Investor Assistance and Complaints The Office of Investor Education and Advocacy answers questions from investors, assists investors with specific problems regarding their relations with broker-dealers and companies, and advises the Commission and other offices and divisions regarding problems frequently encountered by investors and possible regulatory solutions to such problems. Phone, 202-551-6551. Consumer information line, 800-732-0330. Fax, 202-772-9295. Complaints and inquiries may also be directed to any regional or district office. Publications Blank copies of SEC forms and other publications are available in the Publications Unit. Phone, 202-551-4040. Reading Rooms The Commission maintains a public reference room in Washington, DC, where registration statements and other public documents filed with the Commission are available for public inspection Monday through Friday, except on holidays, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Phone, 202-551-5850. Copies of public material may be purchased from the Commission's contract copying service at prescribed rates. The Commission also maintains a library where additional information may be obtained. Phone, 202-551-5450. Fax, 202-772-9326. Small Business Activities Information on securities laws that pertain to small businesses in relation to securities offerings may be obtained from the Commission. Phone, 202-551-3460. For further information, contact the Office of Public Affairs, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549. Phone, 202-551-4120. Fax, 202-777-1026. Internet, www.sec.gov. ------------------------------------------------------------------------