20 U.S.C. § 47 — Acting Secretary

This section lets the chancellor of the Smithsonian Institution name a stand-in Secretary. The chancellor must appoint a "suitable person" through a written document filed in the Secretary's office. This can happen in two situations: when the Secretary's position is vacant, or when the current Secretary cannot do the job because of illness, absence, or some other cause. Once appointed, that person may perform all the duties the law gives to the Secretary. This continues until the vacancy is filled, or until the Secretary's inability to serve ends. The chancellor may also change who holds this stand-in role at any time, whenever the chancellor judges that the Institution's interests require it.