The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or a chairman of committee of the whole, or of any committee or either House of the Legislature, is empowered to administer oaths to witnesses in any case under their examination.
§ 413.Oaths
Chapter 9: Witnesses · Last amended June 1, 1957 · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceSection 413 empowers the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, or a chairman of a committee of the whole or any legislative committee to administer oaths to witnesses under examination in that body.
Full Text of § 413
Amendment History
Laws 1957, HB 831, p. 168, § 3, emerg. eff. 6/1/1957.
Plain-English Summary
Someone has to swear the witness in. This section names who: the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the chairman of a committee of the whole or of any committee of either house, for witnesses under that body's examination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can administer an oath to a witness testifying before an Oklahoma legislative committee?
The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, or a committee chairman, for witnesses under that committee's examination.
Does this section let any legislator administer an oath?
No, only the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, or a chairman of a committee of the whole or of a legislative committee.
Why does the Legislature need its own oath-administering authority?
Because witnesses examined by the House, Senate, or their committees need to be sworn in before testifying, and this section designates who holds that power in legislative proceedings.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: administering an oath to a legislative witness oklahomawho swears in a witness before the legislaturecommittee chairman oath authority