Title 2, The CongressRelease 119-102
§191 Oaths to Witnesses
Title 2 › CHAPTER 6 — CONGRESSIONAL AND COMMITTEE PROCEDURE; INVESTIGATIONS › § 191
Summary
The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and chairs of joint or other congressional committees can put witnesses under oath when they question them. Any member of the House or the Senate can also swear in witnesses for matters before the chamber they sit in or its committees.
Full Legal Text
Title 2, §191
The Congress, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or a chairman of any joint committee established by a joint or concurrent resolution of the two Houses of Congress, or of a committee of the whole, or of any committee of either House of Congress, is empowered to administer oaths to witnesses in any case under their examination. Any member of either House of Congress may administer oaths to witnesses in any matter depending in either House of Congress of which he is a Member, or any committee thereof.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification R.S. § 101 derived from acts
May 3, 1798, ch. 36, § 1, 1 Stat. 554, and Feb. 8, 1817, ch. 10, 3 Stat. 345. R.S. § 101 constitutes first sentence, and act
June 26, 1884, constitutes second sentence.
Amendments
1938—Act June 22, 1938, reenacted section without change.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
2 U.S.C. § 191
Title 2, The Congress
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102