US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

22 U.S.C. § 3612a

General powers of Commission

(a)

Corporate seal

The Commission may adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal, which shall be judicially noticed.

(b)

Bylaws

The Commission may by action of the Board of Directors adopt, amend, and repeal bylaws governing the conduct of its general business and the performance of the powers and duties granted to or imposed upon it by law.

(c)

Suits by and against Commission

The Commission may sue and be sued in its corporate name, except that—
(1)
section 3761 of this title the amenability of the Commission to suit is limited by Article VIII of the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977, , and otherwise by law;
(2)
section 5520a of title 51
1 See References in Text note below.
an attachment, garnishment, or similar process may not be issued against salaries or other moneys owed by the Commission to its employees except as provided by and sections 659, 661, and 662  of title 42, or as otherwise specifically authorized by the laws of the United States; and
(3)
the Commission is exempt from the payment of interest on claims and judgments.
(d)

Contracts, leases, agreements, or other transactions

The Commission may enter into contracts, leases, agreements, or other transactions.

(e)

Obligations and expenditures

The Commission—
(1)
may determine the character of, and necessity for, its obligations and expenditures and the manner in which they shall be incurred, allowed, and paid; and
(2)
may incur, allow, and pay its obligations and expenditures, subject to pertinent provisions of law generally applicable to Government corporations.
(f)

Priority in payment of debts out of bankrupt estates

The Commission shall have the priority of the Government of the United States in the payment of debts out of bankrupt estates.

(g)

Appointment of notaries public

(1)
The Commission may appoint any United States citizen to have the general powers of a notary public to perform, on behalf of Commission employees and their dependents outside the United States, any notarial act that a notary public is required or authorized to perform within the United States. Unless an earlier expiration is provided by the terms of the appointment, any such appointment shall expire three months after the Canal Transfer Date.
(2)
Every notarial act performed by a person acting as a notary under paragraph (1) shall be as valid, and of like force and effect within the United States, as if executed by or before a duly authorized and competent notary public in the United States.
(3)
The signature of any person acting as a notary under paragraph (1), when it appears with the title of that person’s office, is prima facie evidence that the signature is genuine, that the person holds the designated title, and that the person is authorized to perform a notarial act.
(h)

Limitations on authority

section 3612b of this titleThe authority of the Commission under this section and is subject to the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements, and to chapter 91 of title 31.

Pub. L. 96–70, title I, § 1102aPub. L. 104–106, div. C, title XXXV, § 3524(a)110 Stat. 639Pub. L. 105–85, div. C, title XXXV111 Stat. 2073(, as added , , ; amended , §§ 3546, 3550(d)(3), , , 2074.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 104–193, title III, § 362(b)(1)110 Stat. 2246Sections 661 and 662 of title 42, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), were repealed by , , .

Amendments

Pub. L. 105–85, § 3546(2)1997—Subsec. (g). , added subsec. (g). Former subsec. (g) redesignated (h).

Pub. L. 105–85, § 3550(d)(3)section 3612b of this titleSubsec. (h). , made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to .

Pub. L. 105–85, § 3546(1), redesignated subsec. (g) as (h).