CHAPTER 3
Legislative Investigation
§ 1021. Purpose.
§ 1022. Definitions.
§ 1023. Establishment of Committees.
§ 1024. Adoption of rules.
§ 1025. Finances and staff.
§ 1026. Membership, quorum, voting.
§ 1027. Hearings.
§ 1028. Issuance of subpoenas.
§ 1029. Notice to witnesses.
§ 1030. Conduct of hearings.
§ 1031. Right to counsel and submission of questions.
§ 1032. Testimony.
§ 1033. Interested persons.
§ 1034. Contempt.
§ 1035. Penalties.
§ 1036. Government officers an employees to cooperate.
§ 1037. Limitations.
The purpose of this Chapter is to
establish procedures governing legislative investigating committees, to
provide for the creation and operation of such committees in a manner
which will enable them to perform properly the powers and duties vested in
them, including the conduct of hearings in a fair and impartial manner,
consistent with the protection of the rights of persons called to testify
at such hearings and the preservation of the public good.
Source: TDL 27-37, § 1 (71).
Editor's note: TDL 27-37 that created this Chapter was signed into law by the District Administrator on August 15, 1977.
Cross-reference: The constitutional provisions on the Legislature are found in Art. V of the Chuuk State Constitution.
As used in this Chapter, "investigating committee" means any of the following bodies which are authorized by this Chapter to compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses or the production of books, records, papers, and documents for the purpose of securing information on a specific subject for the use of the Truk District Chuuk State Legislature, including but not limited to:
Source: TDL 27-37, § 1 (72), modified.
The resolution, statute, or rule of procedure establishing an investigating committee shall state the committee's purposes, powers, duties, and
duration, the subject matter and scope of its investigatory authority, and
the number of its members.
Source: TDL 27-37, § 1 (73).
Each investigating committee
shall adopt rules, not inconsistent with any law or any applicable rules
of the Legislature, governing its procedures, including the conduct of
hearings.
Source: TDL 27-37, § 1 (74).
Each investigating committee
may employ such professional, technical, clerical, or other personnel as
may be necessary for the proper performance of its duties, to the extent
of funds made available to it for such purpose and subject to such
restrictions and procedures relating thereto as may be provided by law or
any applicable rules of the Legislature.
Source: TDL 27-37, § 1 (75).
(1) A quorum shall consist of a majority of the total authorized number of members of the committee.
(2) An investigating committee of the Legislature may consist of not less than three members.
(3) No action shall be taken by a committee at any meeting unless a quorum is present. The committee may act by a majority vote of the members present and voting at a meeting at which there is a quorum, unless the provisions of this Chapter or any other statute require a greater number or proportion.
Source: TDL 27-37, § 1 (76).
Any investigating committee
may hold hearings appropriate for the performance of its duties, at such
times and places as the committee determines.
Source: TDL 27-37, § 1 (77).
(1) The President or the Speaker of the Legislature may issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses and subpoenas duces tecum requiring the production of books, documents, or other evidence, in any matter pending before a committee.
(2) Every investigating committee, by majority vote of all its members, may issue subpoena duces tecum requiring the production of books, documents, or other evidence, in any matter pending before the committee.
(3) Any subpoena, warrant of arrest or other process issued under the authority of the Legislature shall run in the name of the Truk District Chuuk State Legislature and be addressed to any or all of the following officers: the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Legislature, the Chief of Police of Truk District Chuuk State or his deputies or any municipal police officer within Truk District Chuuk State. The subpoena, warrant or other process shall be signed by the President or the Speaker, shall contain a reference to the rule or resolution, or other means, by which the taking of testimony or other evidence, or the issuance of such warrant or other process, was authorized, and shall, in the case of a summons or subpoena, set forth in general terms the matter or question with reference to which the testimony or evidence is to be taken.
(4) Any officer to whom such process is directed, if within his territorial jurisdiction, shall forthwith serve or execute the same upon delivery thereof to him, without charge or compensation.
Source: TDL 27-37, § 1 (78), modified.
(1) Service of a subpoena requiring the attendance of a person at a hearing of an investigating committee shall be made at least five days prior to the date of hearing, unless a shorter period of time is authorized by a majority vote of all the members of the committee in a particular instance when, in their opinion, the giving of five days notice is not practicable, but if a shorter period of time is authorized, the person subpoenaed shall be given reasonable notice of the hearing, consistent with the particular circumstances involved.
(2) Any person who is served with a subpoena to attend a hearing of an investigating committee also shall be served with a general statement informing him of the subject matter of the committee's investigation or inquiry, and a notice that he may be accompanied at the hearing by counsel of his own choosing.
Source: TDL 27-37, § 1 (79).
(1) All hearings of an investigating committee shall be public unless the committee, by a two-third vote of all of its members determines that a hearing should not be open to the public in a particular instance.
(2) The chairman of an investigating committee, if present and able to act, shall preside at all hearings of the committee and shall conduct the examination of a witness himself or supervise examination by other members of the committee, the committee's counsel, or members of the committee's staff who are so authorized. In the chairman's absence or disability, the vice-chairman shall serve as presiding officer.
(3) No hearing, or part thereof, shall be broadcast except upon approval of the committee by a majority vote of all its members.
Source: TDL 27-37, § 1 (80).
(1) Every witness at a hearing of an investigating committee may be accompanied by counsel of his own choosing, who may advise the witness as to his rights, subject to reasonable limitations which the committee may prescribe to prevent obstruction of or interference with the orderly conduct of the hearing.
(2) Any witness at a hearing, or his counsel, may submit to the committee proposed questions to be asked of the witness or any other witness relevant to the matters upon which there has been any questioning or submission of evidence, and the committee shall ask such questions as are appropriate to the subject matter of the hearing.
Source: TDL 27-37, § 1 (81).
(1) An investigating committee may cause a record to be made of all proceedings in which testimony or other evidence is demanded or adduced, which record shall include rulings of the chair, questions of the committee and its staff, the testimony or responses of witnesses, sworn written statements submitted to the committee, and such other matters as the committee or its chairman may direct.
(2) Any testimony given or adduced at a hearing may be under oath or affirmation if the committee so requires.
(3) The presiding officer of an investigating committee may administer an oath or affirmation to a witness at a hearing of such committee.
(4) The presiding officer at a hearing may direct a witness to answer any relevant question or furnish any relevant book, paper, or other document, the production of which has been required by subpoena duces tecum. Unless the direction is over-ruled by a majority vote of the committee members present, disobedience shall constitute contempt.
(5) A witness at a hearing or his counsel, with the consent of the majority of the committee members present at the hearing, may file with the committee for incorporation into the record of the hearing any sworn statements relevant to the purpose, subject matter, and scope of the committee's investigation or inquiry.
(6) A witness at a hearing, upon his request and at his own expense, shall be furnished a transcript of testimony at the hearing, if a record of the same is kept.
(7) Testimony and other evidence given or adduced at a hearing closed to the public shall not be made public unless authorized by a majority vote of all of the members of the committee from which the testimony or other evidence may be released.
(8) All information of a defamatory or highly prejudicial nature received by or for the committee other than in an open or closed hearing shall be deemed to be confidential. No such information shall be made public unless authorized by a majority vote of all members of the committee for legislative purposes, or unless its use is required for judicial purposes.
Source: 27-37 TDL, § 1 (82).
(1) Any person whose name is mentioned or who is otherwise identified during a hearing of an investigative committee and who in the opinion of the committee may be adversely affected thereby, may upon his request or upon the request of any member of the committee, appear personally before the committee and testify in his own behalf , or with the committee's consent, file a sworn statement of facts or other documentary evidence for incorporation into the record of the hearing.
(2) Upon the consent of a majority of its members, an investigating committee may permit any other person to appear and testify at a hearing or submit a sworn written statement of facts or other documentary evidence for incorporation into the record thereof. No request to appear, appearance, or submission of evidence shall limit in any way the investigating committee's power of subpoena.
(3) Any person who appears before an investigating committee pursuant to this Section shall have all of the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of a witness provided by this Chapter.
Source: TDL 27-37, § 1 (83).
(1) A person shall be in contempt if he:
(a) Fails or refuses to appear in compliance with a subpoena, or having appeared, fails or refuses to testify under oath or affirmation;
(b) Fails or refuses to answer any relevant question or fails or refuses to furnish any relevant book, paper or other document subpoenaed by or on behalf of an investigating committee; or
(c) Exhibits disrespect of an investigating committee by unlawfully, knowingly, and willfully interfering directly with the operation and function of such committee by open defiance of an order in or near the meeting place of such committee, by disturbing the peace in or near such meeting place, by interfering with an officer of such committee in the lawful performance of his official duties, or unlawfully detaining or threatening any witness of such committee because of that person's duty as a witness.
(2) An investigating committee may, by majority vote of all its members, report to the President or the Speaker, any instance of alleged contempt. The President or the Speaker shall certify a statement of such contempt to the Attorney General, or District Attorney who shall prosecute the offender in any proper court of Chuuk State the Trust Territory.
Source: TDL 27-37, § 1 (84).
(1) A person guilty of contempt under this Chapter shall upon conviction be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
(2) If any investigating committee fails in any material respect to comply with the requirements of this Chapter, any person subject to a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum who is prejudiced by such failure shall be relieved of any requirement to attend the hearing for which the subpoena was issued, or if present, to testify or produce evidence therein, and such failure shall be a complete defense in any proceeding against the person for contempt or other punishment.
(3) Any witness shall have only privileges against testifying or producing other evidence under subpoena duces tecum which are:
(a) authorized by the Trust Territory Chuuk State Supreme Court Rules of Evidence; or
(b) required by the Trust Territory Bill of Rights Constitutions or laws of the Federated States of Micronesia or Chuuk State or other law applicable to the Trust Territory.
(4) Any person other than the witness concerned or his counsel who violates the provisions of subsection (7) or (8) of Section 82 1032 of this Chapter shall upon conviction be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. The Attorney General or the District Attorney, on his own motion or on the application of any person claiming to have been injured or prejudiced by an unauthorized disclosure, may institute proceedings for trial of the issue and imposition of the penalties provided herein.
Source: TDL 27-37, § 1 (85), modified.
The Officers and employees of the Truk District Chuuk State Government and of each political
subdivision thereof shall cooperate with any investigating committee or
committees or with their representatives and furnish to them or to their
representatives such information as may be called for in connection with
the research activities of the committees.
Source: TDL 27-37, § 1 (86), modified.
Nothing contained in this act Chapter shall be construed to limit or prohibit
the acquisition of evidence or information by an investigating committee
by any lawful means not provided for herein.
Source: TDL 27-37, § 1 (87).
Cross-reference: The constitutional provisions on the Legislature are found in Art. V of the Chuuk State Constitution.