(a) For purposes of this section, the term
(1) Presidential election period means any period beginning on June 1 in a calendar year in which the popular election of the President occurs, and ending on January 20 following the date of such election; and
(2) senior politically appointed officer means any officer who during a Presidential election period serves
(A) in a Senior Executive Service position and is not a career appointee as defined under section
3132 (a)(4); or
(B) in a position of a confidential or policy-determining character under schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of title
5 of the Code of Federal Regulations.