15 USC § 1508 - General Counsel

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t15/s1508"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "15 USC § 1508 - General Counsel"
title_number: 15
title_name: "COMMERCE AND TRADE"
section_number: "1508"
section_name: "General Counsel"
chapter_number: 40
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Mar. 18, 1904, ch. 716, § 1, 33 Stat. 135; July 17, 1952, ch. 932, § 2, 66 Stat. 758; Aug. 20, 1954, ch. 776, 68 Stat. 753.)"
---


# § 1508. General Counsel

There shall be in the Department of Commerce a General Counsel, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

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**Source Credit**: (Mar. 18, 1904, ch. 716, § 1, 33 Stat. 135; July 17, 1952, ch. 932, § 2, 66 Stat. 758; Aug. 20, 1954, ch. 776, 68 Stat. 753.)

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

Provisions of section that fixed the compensation of the General Counsel have been omitted as the position is under the Executive Schedule under , Government Organization and Employees.

Section was formerly classified to  prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5 by , , .

### Amendments

1954—Act , amended section generally, establishing a General Counsel in the Department of Commerce and a rate of compensation. See Codification note above.

1952—Act , redesignated Solicitor as General Counsel and provided that “all laws and orders relating or referring to the Solicitor shall be deemed to relate or refer to the General Counsel”.

## Executive Documents

### Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of Commerce, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of Commerce, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. , 15 F.R. 3174, , set out as a note under .

### Order of Succession

For order of succession during any period when both Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Commerce are unable to perform functions and duties of office of Secretary, see Ex. Ord. No. 13242, , 66 F.R. 66260, listed in a table under , Government Organization and Employees.