Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73
§4823 Special agents
Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 58— - DIPLOMATIC SECURITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - PERSONNEL › § 4823
Summary
Special agent jobs must be filled under the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.) and title 5. The Secretary of State must recruit women and minorities and set the qualifications. These may include age limits, physical fitness, and legal standards to carry weapons, investigate, serve warrants, and make arrests.
Full Legal Text
Title 22, §4823
Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Special agent positions shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.) and title 5. In filling such positions, the Secretary of State shall actively recruit women and members of minority groups. The Secretary of State shall prescribe the qualifications required for assignment or appointment to such positions. The qualifications may include minimum and maximum entry age restrictions and other physical standards and shall incorporate such standards as may be required by law in order to perform security functions, to bear arms, and to exercise investigatory, warrant, arrest, and such other authorities as are available by law to special agents of the Department of State and the Foreign Service.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Foreign Service Act of 1980, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 96–465, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2071, which is classified principally to chapter 52 (§ 3901 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 3901 of this title and Tables.
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–236 amended section catchline to read “Special agents” and in text substituted “Special agent positions” for “Positions in the Diplomatic Security Service” and “The qualifications” for “In the case of positions designated for special agents, the qualifications”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1994 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 103–236 applicable with respect to officials, offices, and bureaus of Department of State when executive orders,
Regulations
, or departmental directives implementing the
Amendments
by section 161 and 162 of Pub. L. 103–236 become effective, or 90 days after Apr. 30, 1994, whichever comes earlier, see section 161(b) of Pub. L. 103–236, as amended, set out as a note under section 2651a of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
22 U.S.C. § 4823
Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73