28 USC § 1361 - Action to compel an officer of the United States to perform his duty

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t28/s1361"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "28 USC § 1361 - Action to compel an officer of the United States to perform his duty"
title_number: 28
title_name: "JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "1361"
section_name: "Action to compel an officer of the United States to perform his duty"
chapter_number: 85
chapter_name: "DISTRICT COURTS; JURISDICTION"
part_number: "IV"
part_name: "JURISDICTION AND VENUE"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 87–748, § 1(a), Oct. 5, 1962, 76 Stat. 744.)"
---


# § 1361. Action to compel an officer of the United States to perform his duty

The district courts shall have original jurisdiction of any action in the nature of mandamus to compel an officer or employee of the United States or any agency thereof to perform a duty owed to the plaintiff.

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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 87–748, § 1(a), Oct. 5, 1962, 76 Stat. 744.)