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Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73not60

§3931 Board of Examiners

Title 22 › Chapter 52— FOREIGN SERVICE › Subchapter II— MANAGEMENT OF SERVICE › § 3931

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The President must set up a 15-member Board of Examiners for the Foreign Service to create and run the tests used to hire new candidates. At least 5 members must be non‑government people with experience in testing or equal employment. The Board must also include representatives from agencies that use Foreign Service staff and from other agencies that handle employment testing. The President picks the chair, who must be a member of the Service. The Board must regularly check the exams to see if they hurt hiring, promotion, or job chances for any race, sex, or ethnic group. It must look for ways to reduce harm, find alternative tests if needed, and make sure the tests match job performance. If members leave, the remaining members can still act with full authority.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §3931

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The President shall establish a Board of Examiners for the Foreign Service to develop, and supervise the administration of, examinations prescribed under section 3941(b) of this title to be given to candidates for appointment in the Service. The Board shall consist of 15 members appointed by the President (no fewer than 5 of whom shall be appointed from among individuals who are not Government employees and who shall be qualified for service on the Board by virtue of their knowledge, experience, or training in the fields of testing or equal employment opportunity). The Board shall include representatives of agencies utilizing the Foreign Service personnel system and representatives of other agencies which have responsibility for employment testing. The Board shall be chaired by a member of the Board, designated by the President, who is a member of the Service.
(b)The Board of Examiners shall periodically review the examinations prescribed under section 3941(b) of this title in order to determine—
(1)whether any such examination has an adverse impact on the hiring, promotion, or other employment opportunity of members of any race, sex, or ethnic group;
(2)methods of minimizing any such adverse impact;
(3)alternatives to any examinations which have such an adverse impact; and
(4)whether such examinations are valid in relation to job performance.
(c)Any vacancy or vacancies on the Board shall not impair the right of the remaining members to exercise the full powers of the Board.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Executive Documents

Establishment of Board of ExaminersFor establishment of the Board of Examiners for the Foreign Service and appointment of its members, see section 6 of Ex. Ord. No. 12293, Feb. 23, 1981, 46 F.R. 13970, set out as note under section 3901 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 3931

Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60