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5 USC § 5331 - Definitions; application 

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t5/s5331"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "5 USC § 5331 - Definitions; application"
title_number: 5
title_name: "GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES"
section_number: "5331"
section_name: "Definitions; application"
chapter_number: 53
chapter_name: "PAY RATES AND SYSTEMS"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL SCHEDULE PAY RATES"
part_number: "III"
part_name: "EMPLOYEES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 467; Pub. L. 95–454, title IV, § 408(b)(2), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1173; Pub. L. 100–325, § 2(h)(3), May 30, 1988, 102 Stat. 582; Pub. L. 101–509, title V, § 529 [title I, § 102(c)], Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1427, 1444.)"
---

# § 5331. Definitions; application

**(a)** For the purpose of this subchapter, “agency”, “employee”, “position”, “class”, and “grade” have the meanings given them by section 5102 of this title.

**(b)** This subchapter applies to employees and positions to which chapter 51 applies, other than Senior Executive Service positions, positions in the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service, and positions to which section 5376 applies.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 467; Pub. L. 95–454, title IV, § 408(b)(2), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1173; Pub. L. 100–325, § 2(h)(3), May 30, 1988, 102 Stat. 582; Pub. L. 101–509, title V, § 529 [title I, § 102(c)], Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1427, 1444.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

The section is added on authority of former sections 1081, 1082, 1084, and 1091, which are carried into section 5102.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1990—Subsec. (b).  amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “This subchapter applies to employees and positions, other than Senior Executive Service positions and positions in the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service, to which chapter 51 of this title applies.”

1988—Subsec. (b).  inserted reference to positions in Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service.

1978—Subsec. (b).  inserted reference to Senior Executive Service positions.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by  effective on such date as the President shall determine, but not earlier than 90 days, and not later than 180 days, after , see section 529 [title III, § 305] of , set out as a note under .

### Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Amendment by  effective 9 months after , and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .

### References in Other Laws to Chapter 51 and Subchapter III of Chapter 53

References in laws to fix pay in accordance with this subchapter and chapter 51 of this title considered to include authority under , if applicable, but not to include any authority under  or section 529 [title III, § 302] of , set out as a note under , see section 529 [title I, § 101(c)(2)] of , set out in a References in Other Laws to GS–16, 17, or 18 Pay Rates; Regulations note under .