Title 5 — Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73

§4511 Definition and general provisions

Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart C— - Employee Performance › Chapter CHAPTER 45— - INCENTIVE AWARDS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - AWARDS FOR COST SAVINGS DISCLOSURES › § 4511

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines "agency" to mean any Executive agency. It says a cash award is extra money on top of an employee's regular pay. By taking the award, the employee and their heirs or people they gave their rights to agree they will not make any further claim against the Government for using the idea, method, or device that earned the award.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §4511

Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)For purposes of this subchapter, the term “agency” means any Executive agency.

(b)A cash award under this subchapter is in addition to the regular pay of the recipient. Acceptance of a cash award under this subchapter constitutes an agreement that the use by the Government of an idea, method, or device for which the award is made does not form the basis of a further claim of any nature against the Government by the employee, his heirs, or assigns.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1981, see section 1703(c) of Pub. L. 97–35, set out as an

Effective Date

of 1981 Amendment note under section 4501 of this title. Authority To Make Awards Pub. L. 102–487, § 1(c), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3134, provided that: “Awards may be made under subchapter II of chapter 45 of title 5, United States Code, on and after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 24, 1992].”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 4511

Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73