Title 2 — The CongressRelease 119-73not60
§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
Summary
If the Secretary dies, resigns, or cannot work, the Assistant Secretary will act as Secretary until a new Secretary is chosen or the disability ends. The Secretary is disabled only when the Majority and Minority Leaders and the President pro tempore jointly certify that. For other absences a written designation lets the Assistant Secretary act; it can be revoked and ends on death, resignation, or certification.
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
Apr 3, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60