Acting Secretary — Us Code Code § 47

Us Code Code § 47 — Acting Secretary. Reproduced from the official United States Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 47. Acting Secretary

The chancellor of the Smithsonian Institution may, by an instrument in writing filed in the office of the Secretary thereof, designate and appoint a suitable person to act as Secretary of the Institution when there shall be a vacancy in said office, and whenever the Secretary shall be unable from illness, absence, or other cause to perform the duties of his office; and in such case the person so appointed may perform all the duties imposed on the Secretary by law until the vacancy shall be filled or such inability shall cease. The said chancellor may change such designation and appointment from time to time as the interests of the Institution may in his judgment require.

(May 13, 1884, ch. 44, 23 Stat. 21.)


Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Similar prior provisions were contained in act Jan. 24, 1879, ch. 21, 20 Stat. 264.

About This Section

20 U.S.C. § 47 is part of Title 20 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

At a glance

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Common questions

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It addresses "Acting Secretary". Read the section together with the surrounding provisions listed under "Nearby provisions" for the full picture.

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