5 CFR § 451.303 - Restrictions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t5/s451.303"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "5 CFR § 451.303 - Restrictions."
title_number: 5
title_name: "Administrative Personnel"
section_number: "451.303"
section_name: "Restrictions."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS"
part_number: "451"
part_name: "AWARDS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 4302, 4501-4509; E.O. 11438, 33 FR 18085, 3 CFR, 1966-1970 Comp., p. 755; E.O. 12828, 58 FR 2965, 3 CFR, 1993 Comp., p. 569."
cfr_part: "451"
---


# 451.303 Restrictions.

(a) *Governmentwide limitations*—SES. During any fiscal year—

(1) The number of career SES appointees awarded the rank of Meritorious Executive may not exceed 5 percent of the career SES; and

(2) The number of career SES appointees awarded the rank of Distinguished Executive may not exceed 1 percent of the career SES.

(b) *Governmentwide limitations*—Senior career employees. During any fiscal year—

(1) The number of senior career employees awarded the rank of Meritorious Senior Professional may not exceed 5 percent of the total number of career appointees to OPM-allocated Senior-Level (SL) and Scientific-Professional (ST) positions; and

(2) The number of senior career employees awarded the rank of Distinguished Senior Professional may not exceed 1 percent of the total number of career appointees to OPM-allocated Senior-Level (SL) and Scientific-Professional (ST) positions.

(c) *Frequency of awards.* Individuals awarded a Distinguished or Meritorious rank under this subpart shall not be entitled to be awarded that rank during the following 4 fiscal years.

[67 FR 52596, Aug. 13, 2002, as amended at 72 FR 44367, Aug. 8, 2007]