Definitions — Us Code Code § 5402

Us Code Code § 5402 — Definitions. Reproduced from the official United States Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 5402. Definitions

For the purpose of this chapter—

(1) "agency" means an Executive agency under section 105, but does not include the Government Accountability Office;

(2) "employee" includes—

(A) an individual paid under a statutory pay system defined in section 5302(1);

(B) a prevailing rate employee, as defined in section 5342(a)(2); and

(C) a category of employees included by the Office of Personnel Management following the review of an agency plan under section 5403(b)(1);


but does not include—

(i) an individual paid at an annual rate of basic pay for a level of the Executive Schedule, under subchapter II of chapter 53, or at a rate provided for one of those levels under another provision of law;

(ii) a member of the Senior Executive Service paid under subchapter VIII of chapter 53, or an equivalent system;

(iii) an administrative law judge paid under section 5372;

(iv) a contract appeals board member paid under section 5372a;

(v) an administrative appeals judge paid under section 5372b; and

(vi) an individual in a position which is excepted from the competitive service because of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character; and


(3) "Office" means the Office of Personnel Management.

(Added Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title XI, §1129(a), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1642; amended Pub. L. 108–271, §8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814.)


Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 5402, added Pub. L. 95–454, title V, §501, Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1181; amended Pub. L. 98–615, title II, §201(a), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3208, related to applicability of chapter, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–89, §3(a)(1), (c), Sept. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 981, 983, eff. Nov. 1, 1993.

Amendments

2004—Par. (1). Pub. L. 108–271 substituted "Government Accountability Office" for "General Accounting Office".

About This Section

5 U.S.C. § 5402 is part of Title 5 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 5 U.S.C. § 5402. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

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