2 U.S.C. § 288b — Requirements for authorizing representation activity

(a) Defending the Senate. The Counsel may defend the Senate, or a committee, subcommittee, Member, officer, or employee of the Senate, under section 288c of this title, only when directed to do so either by a two-thirds vote of the Joint Leadership Group's members or by the Senate adopting a resolution. (b) Enforcing a subpoena. The Counsel may bring a lawsuit to enforce a Senate subpoena under section 288d of this title only when the Senate directs this by adopting a resolution. (c) Intervening or appearing as amicus curiae. The Counsel may step into a case or appear as a "friend of the court" (amicus curiae) under section 288e of this title only when a Senate resolution directs this, and only when doing so in the name of the Senate or in the name of an officer, committee, subcommittee, or chair of a committee or subcommittee. (d) Seeking immunity orders. The Counsel serves as the authorized representative for getting a court order granting immunity under section 288f of this title for: (1) the Senate, when a majority of Senators present vote to direct this; or (2) a Senate committee or subcommittee, when two-thirds of the full committee's members vote to direct this. (e) No recommendations on resolutions. The Office (of Senate Legal Counsel) may not make recommendations about whether the Senate should consider a resolution under this section.