QUOTE(Mrs. Pigpen @ Sep 14 2007, 03:43 PM) 
QUOTE(Vladimir @ Sep 14 2007, 10:42 AM)
We still do not have authoritative opinion, or a convincing citation, to tell us whether swearin-in of witnesses is customary in all congressional hearings or only in some. If I read Mrs. Pigpen correctly, she supplies only her opinion to this effect, and she does not seem to be an expert on Congressional procedure. I would not be surprised if she were right, but I would like to know whether she is.
So that we can actually discuss this topic, therefore, can anyone find an authoritative source on this interesting point?
So that we can actually discuss this topic, therefore, can anyone find an authoritative source on this interesting point?
I linked to the actual military handbook on testifying before Congress in my response to logophage here.
Thanks, I missed that. However, we still don't know for sure whether this committee would normally have sworn Petraeus in but just waived it, or whether they would not normally have sworn him in. While I have every reason to expect that the assumption implicit in your "evidently" is true, we should ascertain if it is. I don't know how to do that.
QUOTE(Vladimir @ Sep 14 2007, 11:35 AM)
Thanks, I missed that. However, we still don't know for sure whether this committee would normally have sworn Petraeus in but just waived it, or whether they would not normally have sworn him in. While I have every reason to expect that the assumption implicit in your "evidently" is true, we should ascertain if it is. I don't know how to do that.
Been thinking on this one and the ideal thing to do it seems to me would be to obtain transcripts of hearings and see if witnesses are typically sworn in. I haven't found written transcripts, but I did find the actual audio of the hearings of the House Armed Services Committee here. I listened to the first part of the 5Sept hearing about the GAO report and didn't hear the witnesses being sworn in at that hearing. One word of warning though about listening to these things. Before they actually get to the witness you'll have to endure a bunch of pontificating from the chair and ranking member.
Aquilla
QUOTE(Vladimir @ Sep 14 2007, 09:42 AM)
We still do not have authoritative opinion, or a convincing citation, to tell us whether swearin-in of witnesses is customary in all congressional hearings or only in some.
It appears that it is purely discretionary.
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