political appointee
Defined in 6 places across 5 titles of the United States Code.
Definition of political appointee.—For purposes of this subsection, the term "political appointee" means any individual who—
(A) is employed in a position listed in sections 5312 through 5316 of title 5 (relating to the Executive Schedule);
(B) is a limited term appointee, limited emergency appointee, or noncareer appointee in the Senior Executive Service, as defined under paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively, of section 3132(a) of title 5; or
(C) is employed in a position in the executive branch of the Government 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.
Source
- 1996–present49 U.S.C. § 106Transportation · Federal Aviation Administration · in this title
Definition of Political Appointee.—In this section, the term "political appointee" means an employee of the Department who holds—
(1) a position which has been excepted from the competitive service by reason of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character; or
(2) a position in the Senior Executive Service as a noncareer appointee (as such term is defined in section 3132(a) of title 5).
Source
- 2017–202638 U.S.C. § 725Veterans Benefits · Annual performance plan for political appointees · in this section
For purposes of this subparagraph, the term "political appointee" has the meaning given such term in section 714(h) of title 38.
Source
- 2019–present15 U.S.C. § 278sCommerce and Trade · Manufacturing USA · in this section
For purposes of this subparagraph, the term "political appointee" means any individual who—
(I) is employed in a position described under sections 5312 through 5316 of title 5 (relating to the Executive Schedule);
(II) is a limited term appointee, limited emergency appointee, or noncareer appointee in the Senior Executive Service, as defined under paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively, of section 3132(a) of title 5; or
(III) is employed in a position in the executive branch of the Government 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.
Source
- 2014–201915 U.S.C. § 278sCommerce and Trade · Manufacturing USA · in this section
For purposes of this subsection, the term “political appointee” means an employee who holds—
(A) a position which has been excepted from the competitive service by reason of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character; or
(B) a position in the Senior Executive Service as a noncareer appointee (as such term is defined in section 3132(a)).
Source
- 2004–present5 U.S.C. § 9803Government Organization and Employees · Restrictions · under this chapter
For purposes of this subsection, the term “political appointee” means any individual who—
(A) is employed in a position listed in sections 5312 through 5316 of title 5 (relating to the Executive Schedule);
(B) is a limited term appointee, limited emergency appointee, or noncareer appointee in the Senior Executive Service, as defined under paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively, of section 3132(a) of title 5; or
(C) is employed in a position in the executive branch of the Government 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.
Source
- 2013–202449 U.S.C. § 106Transportation · Federal Aviation Administration · in this title
In this section, the term “political appointee” means an employee of the Department who holds—
(1) a position which has been excepted from the competitive service by reason of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character; or
(2) a position in the Senior Executive Service as a noncareer appointee (as such term is defined in section 3132(a) of title 5).
Source
- 2026–present38 U.S.C. § 725Veterans Benefits · Annual performance plan for political appointees · in this section
The term “political appointee” means an individual who is—
(A) employed in a position described under sections 5312 through 5316 of title 5 (relating to the Executive Schedule);
(B) a limited term appointee, limited emergency appointee, or noncareer appointee in the Senior Executive Service, as defined under paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively, of section 3132(a) of title 5; or
(C) employed in a position of a confidential or policy-determining character under schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulation.
Source
- 2017–present38 U.S.C. § 714Veterans Benefits · Employees: removal, demotion, or suspension based on performance or misconduct · in this section
the term "political appointee" means any employee who occupies a position which has been excepted from the competitive service by reason of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character.
Source
- 2016–present6 U.S.C. § 349Domestic Security · Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans · in this section