Civil court powers enable authorities to compel evidence and witness testimony in advance ruling proceedings. Authority and Appellate Authority may exercise civil court powers-discovery and inspection, enforcing attendance, examining persons on oath, issuing commissions and compelling production of books and records-to obtain evidence for advance ruling proceedings. They are deemed a civil court for specific penal-law purposes so that proceedings qualify as judicial proceedings and attract penal consequences for false evidence, while not being treated as a criminal court for other criminal procedure provisions.