### Question
How does the law define total public debt?


### Answer
Under *31 U.S.C. § 3130*, **total public debt** is defined as:

> the total amount of the obligations subject to the public debt limit established in section 3101 of this title

#### Citation:
  - *31 U.S.C. § 3130*
  - Heading: **SUBTITLE III-FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT > CHAPTER 31-PUBLIC DEBT > SUBCHAPTER II-ADMINISTRATIVE**

