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5 U.S. Code § 4508 - Limitation of awards during a Presidential election year

(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.
(b)
No senior politically appointed officer may receive an award under the provisions of this subchapter during a Presidential election period.