SSN Policy Manual

Policy Manual

26 USC Rule 221 states that petitioner for a disclosure action "shall include the telephone number of the petitioner or the petitioner's counsel." 26 USC 56104 states that certain exempt organizations "shall state the address and the telephone number of the private foundation's principal office and the name of its principal manager." Therefore, based upon that review, and the understanding that the word shall is generally the same thing as an imperative or mandatory requirement having somewhat the same meaning as the word must, then phrases such as, shall provide, shall include, shall contain and shall state makes it pretty obvious that the individual affected by these laws must have a telephone number. 29 USC §213 requires all employers and employees to have a telephone number. 49 USC 544909 requires passengers on a commercial flight to have friends who have telephone numbers. 42 USC 5666 requires everybody to have a telephone number . . . (Okay, I admit this might be stretching things here . .. but no, because this is the same law that the States are claiming requires them to demand your social security number when getting a driver's license.) 26 USC 524 requires that anyone representing themselves in tax court must have a telephone number. 17 USC 5 104A prohibits you from restoring your copyright without a telephone number. 28 USC Rule 26 prohibits you from being a witness if you don't have a telephone number. 26 USC Rule 241 requires individuals to have a telephone number before they can enter into a partnership. So, certainly based upon this understanding of the law, we should logically conclude that individuals who wish to become employers, employees, friends of airline passengers, or everybody (because men and women could possibly become involved in a paternity suit) is required to obtain, have and use their telephone number . .. Either that, or we need to reevaluate the legal meaning of the word shall.

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A Brief Glossary Weasel-word - a word that has the appearance and feel of meaning one thing while actually meaning something entirely different.

The Meaning of the Word "shall" Black's Law Dictionary defines the meaning of the word shall as:

Shall. As used in statutes, contracts, or the like, this word is generally imperative or mandatory. .. . The word in ordinary usage means "must" and is inconsistent with a concept of discretion. ... But it may be construed as merely permissive or directory (as equivalent to "may") ...