Title 2, The CongressRelease 119-102
§193 Privilege of Witnesses
Title 2 › CHAPTER 6 — CONGRESSIONAL AND COMMITTEE PROCEDURE; INVESTIGATIONS › § 193
Summary
Witnesses must answer questions and hand over papers when questioned by either House of Congress, a joint committee set up by both Houses, or any committee, even if the information might shame them.
Full Legal Text
Title 2, §193
The Congress, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
No witness is privileged to refuse to testify to any fact, or to produce any paper, respecting which he shall be examined by either House of Congress, or by any joint committee established by a joint or concurrent resolution of the two Houses of Congress, or by any committee of either House, upon the ground that his testimony to such fact or his production of such paper may tend to disgrace him or otherwise render him infamous.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification R.S. § 103 derived from act Jan. 24, 1862, ch. 11, 12 Stat. 333.
Amendments
1938—Act June 22, 1938, reenacted section without change.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
2 U.S.C. § 193
Title 2, The Congress
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102