PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

§5721 Definitions

Title 5 › PART III — EMPLOYEES › Subpart D — Pay and Allowances › CHAPTER 57 — TRAVEL, TRANSPORTATION, AND SUBSISTENCE › SUBCHAPTER II — TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES; NEW APPOINTEES, STUDENT TRAINEES, AND TRANSFERRED EMPLOYEES › § 5721

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words used in this part of the law. "Agency" means many federal bodies (like Executive agencies, military departments, U.S. courts and their Administrative Office, Capitol-related offices, and the District of Columbia government) but not government-controlled corporations. "Employee" means someone who works for an agency. "Continental United States" means the States and D.C., excluding Alaska and Hawaii. "Government" means the U.S. and D.C. "Appropriation" means money provided by law, including funds under 31 U.S.C. 9104. "United States" includes the States, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, other U.S. territories and possessions, and areas in Panama made available under the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related 1979 law. "Foreign Service of the United States" means the U.S. Foreign Service as set up by the Foreign Service Act of 1980.

Title 5, §5721

Government Organization and Employees, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

For the purpose of this subchapter—

(1)“agency” means—

(A)an Executive agency;

(B)a military department;

(C)a court of the United States;

(D)the Administrative Office of the United States Courts;

(E)the Library of Congress;

(F)the Botanic Garden;

(G)the Architect of the Capitol;

(H)the Government Publishing Office; and

(I)the government of the District of Columbia;

but does not include a Government controlled corporation;

(2)“employee” means an individual employed in or under an agency;

(3)“continental United States” means the several States and the District of Columbia, but does not include Alaska or Hawaii;

(4)“Government” means the Government of the United States and the government of the District of Columbia;

(5)“appropriation” includes funds made available by statute under section 9104 of title 31;

(6)“United States” means the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the territories and possessions of the United States, and the areas and installations in the Republic of Panama that are made available to the United States pursuant to the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements (as described in section 3(a) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979); and

(7)“Foreign Service of the United States” means the Foreign Service as constituted under the Foreign Service Act of 1980.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

The section is based on section 18 and 19 of the Act of Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 744, 60 Stat. 811, 812. section 18 and 19 of the Act of Aug. 2, 1946, are omitted from this title and transferred to other titles of the United States Code since such sections apply also to section 9, 11, and 16(a) of the Act of Aug. 2, 1946, which sections appear in titles 31 and 41 of the United States Code. Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 3(a) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979, referred to in par. (6), is classified to section 3602(a) of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse. The Foreign Service Act of 1980, referred to in par. (7), is Pub. L. 96–465, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2071, which is classified principally to chapter 52 (§ 3901 et seq.) of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 3901 of Title 22 and Tables.

Amendments

2007—Par. (1)(G) to (I). Pub. L. 110–161 added subpar. (G) and redesignated former subpars. (G) and (H) as (H) and (I), respectively. 1998—Pars. (6), (7). Pub. L. 105–264 added pars. (6) and (7). 1982—Par. (5). Pub. L. 97–258 substituted “section 9104” for “section 849”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“Government Publishing Office” substituted for “Government Printing Office” in par. (1)(H) on authority of section 1301(b) of Pub. L. 113–235, set out as a note preceding section 301 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents.