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Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73

§1917 Interference with civil service examinations

Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 93— - PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES › § 1917

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Makes it a crime for certain government workers to cheat or help others cheat on competitive federal job exams. It covers employees of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and other public servants and forbids four things: blocking or tricking someone out of their right to take the exam under the rules, falsifying or misreporting exam scores or standing, lying about scores or about the person who took the exam, and giving secret or special information to help or hurt someone’s chances for appointment, employment, or promotion.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §1917

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever, being a member or employee of the United States Office of Personnel Management or an individual in the public service, willfully and corruptly—
(1)defeats, deceives, or obstructs an individual in respect of his right of examination according to the rules prescribed by the President under title 5 for the administration of the competitive service and the regulations prescribed by such Office under section 1302(a) of title 5;
(2)falsely marks, grades, estimates, or reports on the examination or proper standing of an individual examined;
(3)makes a false representation concerning the mark, grade, estimate, or report on the examination or proper standing of an individual examined, or concerning the individual examined; or
(4)furnishes to an individual any special or secret information for the purpose of improving or injuring the prospects or chances of an individual examined, or to be examined, being appointed, employed, or promoted;

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes andStatutes at Large 5 U.S.C. 637.Jan. 16, 1883, ch. 27, § 5, 22 Stat. 405. The section is rewritten to conform to the style of title 18. The words “a member or employee of the United States Civil Service Commission” are coextensive with and substituted for “Civil Service Commissioner, examiner, copyist, or messenger”. The references to actions in concert with others to violate this section are omitted in view of the crime of conspiracy contained in chapter 19 of title 18. In paragraph (1), the words “the rules prescribed by the President under title 5 for the administration of the competitive service and the

Regulations

prescribed by the Commission under section 1302(a) of title 5” are substituted for “any such rules or

Regulations

” to provide the basis of reference. The words “be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor” are omitted as unnecessary in view of the definitive section 1 of this title. (See reviser’s note under 18 U.S.C. 212, 1964 ed.) The words “and upon conviction thereof” are omitted as unnecessary because punishment can be imposed only after conviction. The words “or both” are substituted for “or by both such fine and imprisonment”.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–294 substituted “fined under this title not less than $100” for “fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000” in concluding provisions. 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission” in introductory provisions and “such Office” for “the Commission” in par. (1).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 1917

Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73