7 U.S.C. § 2217: Oaths, affirmations, and…

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture can pick Department officers, agents, or employees to give or take oaths, affirmations, or affidavits (sworn statements) when those statements are needed in a court case or other legal action to enforce laws the Department handles. If the chosen person signs the sworn statement and it is stamped with the Department seal, federal courts must accept it. It counts the same as if a court clerk had taken it, and no extra proof of the person’s authority or identity is required.

Title 7, §2217

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Such officers, agents, or employees of the Department of Agriculture of the United States as are designated by the Secretary of Agriculture for the purpose are authorized and empowered to administer to or take from any person an oath, affirmation, or affidavit whenever such oath, affirmation, or affidavit is for use in any prosecution or proceeding under or in the enforcement of any law committed to or which may be committed to the Secretary of Agriculture or the Department of Agriculture or any bureau or subdivision thereof for administration. Any such oath, affirmation, or affidavit administered or taken by or before such officer, agent, or employee when certified under his hand and authenticated by the seal of the Department of Agriculture may be offered or used in any court of the United States and shall have like force and effect as if administered or taken before a clerk of such court without further proof of the identity or authority of such officer, agent, or employee.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 521 of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, § 1, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Executive Documents

Department of the Interior PersonnelProvisions of this section were made applicable to such officers, agents, or employees of Department of the Interior performing functions of former Bureau of Biological Survey as are designated by Secretary of the Interior for purposes named herein by 1939 Reorg. Plan No. II, § 4(g), eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2731, 53 Stat. 1433, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. See also sections 401 to 404 of said plan for provisions relating to

Transfer of Functions

, records, property, personnel, and funds. Bureau of Biological Survey was subsequently consolidated with Bureau of Fisheries into Fish and Wildlife Service in Department of the Interior by 1940 Reorg. Plan No. III, § 3, eff. June 30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2107, 54 Stat. 1232, also set out in the Appendix to Title 5.

§2217 Oaths, Affirmations, and Affidavits Taken by Officers, Agents, or Employees of Department; Use and Effect