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Title 2, The CongressRelease 119-102

§6533 Death, Resignation, or Disability of Secretary of Senate; Assistant Secretary of Senate to Act as Secretary; Written Designation of Absent Status

Title 2 › CHAPTER 65 — SENATE OFFICERS AND ADMINISTRATION › SUBCHAPTER II — SECRETARY OF THE SENATE › Part A — Organization and Personnel › § 6533

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

If the Secretary of the Senate dies, resigns, or cannot do the job, the Assistant Secretary must take over all duties until a new Secretary is elected and qualified or the problem ends. The Secretary is only officially "unable" when the Majority Leader, Minority Leader, and the President pro tempore together tell the Senate that the Secretary cannot perform the duties. If the Secretary will be away for other reasons, they can give a written note naming the Assistant Secretary to act for them. The written designation can be canceled in writing at any time and ends automatically if the Secretary dies, resigns, or is declared unable to serve.

Full Legal Text

Title 2, §6533

The Congress, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In the event of the death, resignation, or disability of the Secretary of the Senate, the Assistant Secretary of the Senate shall act as Secretary in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of that office in all matters until such time as a new Secretary shall have been elected and qualified or such disability shall have been ended. For purposes of this section and section 6532 of this title, the Secretary of the Senate shall be considered as disabled only during such period of time as the Majority and Minority Leaders and the President pro tempore of the Senate certify jointly to the Senate that the Secretary is unable to perform his duties. In the event that the Secretary of the Senate is absent or is to be absent for reasons other than disability (as provided in this section), and makes a written designation that he is or will be so absent, the Assistant Secretary shall act during such absence as the Secretary in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the office in all matters. The designation may be revoked in writing at any time by the Secretary, and is revoked whenever the Secretary making the designation dies, resigns, or is considered disabled in accordance with this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 64b of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Amendments

1984—Pub. L. 98–367 struck out provisions relating to exception for duties of the Secretary as disbursing officer of the Senate. 1974—Pub. L. 93–371 inserted provisions relating to the absence of Secretary of Senate for reasons other than disability and the written designation of such absent status.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

2 U.S.C. § 6533

Title 2, The Congress

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102