Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/13pdf/12-158_6579.pdf
Page Number: 8.0

Cite as:  572 U. S. ____ (2014) 

5 

Opinion of the Court 

its  obligations  under 

that “[e]ach State Party shall, in accordance  with its con-
stitutional  processes,  adopt  the  necessary  measures  to
implement 
this  Convention.” 
Art. VII(1),  1974  U.  N.  T.  S.  331.    “In  particular,”  each 
State  Party  shall  “[p]rohibit  natural  and  legal  persons
anywhere  . . .  under  its  jurisdiction  . . .  from  undertaking
any  activity  prohibited  to  a  State  Party  under  this  Con-
vention,  including  enacting  penal  legislation  with  respect 
to such activity.”  Art. VII (1)(a), id., at 331–332. 

Congress  gave  the  Convention  domestic  effect  in  1998
when it passed the Chemical Weapons Convention Imple-
mentation  Act.    See  112  Stat.  2681–856.  The  Act  closely 
tracks  the  text  of  the  treaty:  It  forbids  any  person  know-
ingly  “to  develop,  produce,  otherwise  acquire,  transfer
directly  or  indirectly,  receive,  stockpile,  retain,  own,  pos-
sess, or use, or threaten to use, any chemical weapon.”  18 
U. S. C.  §229(a)(1).    It  defines  “chemical  weapon”  in  rele-
vant part as “[a] toxic chemical and its precursors, except
where  intended  for  a  purpose  not  prohibited  under  this
chapter as long as the type and quantity is consistent with 
such a purpose.”  §229F(1)(A).  “Toxic chemical,” in turn, is 
defined  in  general  as  “any  chemical  which  through  its
chemical  action  on  life  processes  can  cause  death,  tempo-
rary  incapacitation  or  permanent  harm  to  humans  or 
animals.  The term includes all such chemicals, regardless
of  their  origin  or  of  their  method  of  production,  and  re-
gardless  of  whether  they  are  produced  in  facilities,  in
munitions or elsewhere.”  §229F(8)(A).  Finally, “purposes
not prohibited by this chapter” is defined as “[a]ny peace-
ful purpose related to an industrial, agricultural, research,
medical, or pharmaceutical activity or other activity,” and
other specific purposes.  §229F(7).  A person who violates 
section 229 may be subject to severe punishment: impris-
onment  “for  any  term  of  years,”  or  if  a  victim’s  death  re-
sults,  the  death  penalty  or  imprisonment  “for  life.” 
§229A(a).