Title 2, The CongressRelease 119-110

§1432 Political Affiliation and Place of Residence

Title 2 › CHAPTER 24 — CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY › SUBCHAPTER V — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › § 1432

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

You may consider a person's political party, where they live (their home), or whether their politics fit the office when making hiring, firing, or other job decisions for certain congressional staff. “Employee” means staff of House or Senate leadership; staff of a House, Senate, or joint committee or subcommittee; staff of a Member of the House or a Senator; officers of the House or Senate or congressional employees chosen by the House or Senate or appointed by a Member or Senator; and applicants for those jobs.

Full Legal Text

Title 2, §1432

The Congress, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

It shall not be a violation of any provision of section 1311 of this title to consider the—

(1)party affiliation;

(2)domicile; or

(3)political compatibility with the employing office;

of an employee referred to in subsection (b) with respect to employment decisions.

(b)“Employee” defined

For purposes of subsection (a), the term “employee” means—

(1)an employee on the staff of the leadership of the House of Representatives or the leadership of the Senate;

(2)an employee on the staff of a committee or subcommittee of—

(A)the House of Representatives;

(B)the Senate; or

(C)a joint committee of the Congress;

(3)an employee on the staff of a Member of the House of Representatives or on the staff of a Senator;

(4)an officer of the House of Representatives or the Senate or a congressional employee who is elected by the House of Representatives or Senate or is appointed by a Member of the House of Representatives or by a Senator (in addition an employee described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3)); or

(5)an applicant for a position that is to be occupied by an individual described in any of paragraphs (1) through (4).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

2 U.S.C. § 1432

Title 2, The Congress

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110