Scope of Amendments to Administrative Codes
- The amendments affect Section 21 of the Revised Administrative Code and Section 41 of the Administrative Code of 1987, updating them to reflect the expanded list of officials authorized to administer oaths.
- The language in both codes is harmonized, enumerating the same classes of officials with general authority to administer oaths.
Preservation of Existing Authority
- The Act clarifies that nothing within it shall be interpreted to revoke or disallow any person already authorized to administer oaths under existing laws.
Delegation of Oath-Administering Authority by Congress Members and Secretaries
- Members and Secretaries of both Houses of Congress are empowered to delegate their authority to administer oaths to their respective committee secretaries or other staffers.
- This delegation is specifically allowed in the context of conducting pending inquiries or investigations.
Record-Keeping Requirements
- Officials authorized to administer oaths under this Act are not mandated to maintain registers or copies of the oaths they administer.
- An exception is made for notaries public, who must continue to comply with existing record-keeping requirements as stipulated by law.
Effectivity and Publication
- The Act shall take effect upon its publication in at least one national newspaper of general circulation.
- Amendments to the Administrative Code of 1987 become effective concurrently with the effectivity of the Code itself.
Summary of Legal Concepts
- The Act consolidates and reaffirms the legal authority of key public officials to administer oaths, an essential administrative and judicial function.
- It facilitates flexibility by allowing delegation within Congress and eases administrative burdens by waiving record-keeping for most officials.
- It safeguards existing legal authorizations and harmonizes provisions across administrative codes for coherence and clarity.