20 U.S.C. § 47 : US Code - Section 47: Acting Secretary

Search 20 U.S.C. § 47 : US Code - Section 47: Acting Secretary

The chancellor of the Smithsonian Institution may, by an
instrument in writing filed in the office of the Secretary thereof,
designate and appoint a suitable person to act as Secretary of the
Institution when there shall be a vacancy in said office, and
whenever the Secretary shall be unable from illness, absence, or
other cause to perform the duties of his office; and in such case
the person so appointed may perform all the duties imposed on the
Secretary by law until the vacancy shall be filled or such
inability shall cease. The said chancellor may change such
designation and appointment from time to time as the interests of
the Institution may in his judgment require.