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42 USC § 617 - Limitation on Federal authority 

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s617"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 617 - Limitation on Federal authority"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "617"
section_name: "Limitation on Federal authority"
chapter_number: 7
chapter_name: "SOCIAL SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "IV"
subchapter_name: "GRANTS TO STATES FOR AID AND SERVICES TO NEEDY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND FOR CHILD-WELFARE SERVICES"
part_number: "A"
part_name: "Block Grants to States for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, § 417, as added Pub. L. 104–193, title I, § 103(a)(1), Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2159; amended Pub. L. 105–33, title V, § 5514(c), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 620.)"
---

# § 617. Limitation on Federal authority

No officer or employee of the Federal Government may regulate the conduct of States under this part or enforce any provision of this part, except to the extent expressly provided in this part.

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**Source Credit**: (Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, § 417, as added Pub. L. 104–193, title I, § 103(a)(1), Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2159; amended Pub. L. 105–33, title V, § 5514(c), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 620.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 617, , formerly § 418, as added , , ; renumbered § 417, , , , related to Assistant Secretary for Family Support, prior to repeal by , as amended by , , .

### Amendments

1997— made technical amendment to directory language of , which enacted this section.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Amendment by  effective as if included in the provision of  amended at the time the provision became law, see , set out as a note under , Food and Drugs.

### Effective Date

Section effective , with transition rules relating to State options to accelerate such date, rules relating to claims, actions, and proceedings commenced before such date, rules relating to closing out of accounts for terminated or substantially modified programs and continuance in office of Assistant Secretary for Family Support, and provisions relating to termination of entitlement under AFDC program, see , as amended, set out as a note under .