Federal · Title 16 — Conservation

16 U.S.C. § 403h: Acceptance of jurisdiction by United States; saving provisions

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

The federal government assumes jurisdiction over Great Smoky Mountains National Park lands, but states retain rights to serve legal process, tax residents and businesses, allow residents to vote, and tax fuel sales in the ceded areas.

Read the full statutory text
Sole and exclusive jurisdiction is assumed by the United States over certain lands within the States of North Carolina and Tennessee as may be acquired for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, saving, however, to the State of North Carolina and to the State of Tennessee, respectively, the right to serve civil or criminal process within the limits of the area ceded by such State in suits or prosecutions for or on account of any rights acquired, obligations incurred, or crimes committed in such State outside of said park; and saving further to each such State the right to tax persons and corporations, their franchises and property on the lands included in such ceded area; and saving also to the persons residing in said park now, or hereafter, the right to vote at all elections held within the county in which they reside; and saving further to each such State the right to tax sales in such ceded area of gasoline and other motor-vehicle fuels and oil for use in motor vehicles. Nothing in this section shall be construed as a consent by the United States to the taxation by the States of such sales for the exclusive use of the United States.

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.