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* U.S.C. TITLE 5 - GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES
* PART I - THE AGENCIES GENERALLY
* CHAPTER 5 - ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
* SUBCHAPTER II - ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
* 556. Hearings; presiding employees; powers and duties; burden of proof; evidence; record
as basis of decision
* (a) This section applies, according to the provisions thereof, to hearings required by
section 553 or 554 of this title to be conducted in accordance with this section.
* (b) There shall preside at the taking of evidence -
* (1) the agency;
* (2) one or more members of the body which comprises the agency; or
* (3) one or more administrative law judges appointed under section 3105 of this title.
This subchapter does not supersede the conduct of specified classes of proceedings, in
whole or in part, by or before boards or other employees specially provided for by or
designated under statute. The functions of presiding employees and of employees
participating in decisions in accordance with section 557 of this title shall be conducted
in an impartial manner. A presiding or participating employee may at any time disqualify
himself. On the filing in good faith of a timely and sufficient affidavit of personal bias
or other disqualification of a presiding or participating employee, the agency shall
determine the matter as a part of the record and decision in the case.
* (c) Subject to published rules of the agency and within its powers, employees presiding
at hearings may -
* (1) administer oaths and affirmations;
* (2) issue subpenas authorized by law;
* (3) rule on offers of proof and receive relevant evidence;
* (4) take depositions or have depositions taken when the ends of justice would be served;
* (5) regulate the course of the hearing;
* (6) hold conferences for the settlement or simplification of the issues by consent of
the parties or by the use of alternative means of dispute resolution as provided in
subchapter IV of this chapter;
* (7) inform the parties as to the availability of one or more alternative means of
dispute resolution, and encourage use of such methods;
* (8) require the attendance at any conference held pursuant to paragraph (6) of at least
one representative of each party who has authority to negotiate concerning resolution of
issues in controversy;
* (9) dispose of procedural requests or similar matters;
* (10) make or recommend decisions in accordance with section 557 of this title; and
* (11) take other action authorized by agency rule consistent with this subchapter.
* (d) Except as otherwise provided by statute, the proponent of a rule or order has the
burden of proof. Any oral or documentary evidence may be received, but the agency as a
matter of policy shall provide for the exclusion of irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly
repetitious evidence. A sanction may not be imposed or rule or order issued except on
consideration of the whole record or those parts thereof cited by a party and supported by
and in accordance with the reliable, probative, and substantial evidence. The agency may,
to the extent consistent with the interests of justice and the policy of the underlying
statutes administered by the agency, consider a violation of section 557(d) of this title
sufficient grounds for a decision adverse to a party who has knowingly committed such
violation or knowingly caused such violation to occur. A party is entitled to present his
case or defense by oral or documentary evidence, to submit rebuttal evidence, and to
conduct such cross-examination as may be required for a full and true disclosure of the
facts. In rule making or determining claims for money or benefits or applications for
initial licenses an agency may, when a party will not be prejudiced thereby, adopt
procedures for the submission of all or part of the evidence in written form.
* (e) The transcript of testimony and exhibits, together with all papers and requests
filed in the proceeding, constitutes the exclusive record for decision in accordance with
section 557 of this title and, on payment of lawfully prescribed costs, shall be made
available to the parties. When an agency decision rests on official notice of a material
fact not appearing in the evidence in the record, a party is entitled, on timely request,
to an opportunity to show the contrary.
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