2 U.S.C. § 271 — Establishment

Page 115 TITLE 2—THE CONGRESS § 273 CHAPTER 9—OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL SUBCHAPTER I—SENATE Sec. 271. Establishment. 272. Legislative Counsel. 273. Compensation. 274. Staff; office equipment and supplies. 275. Functions. 276. Disbursement of appropriations. 276a. Expenditures. 276b. Travel and related expenses. 277. Repealed. SUBCHAPTER II—HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PART I—PURPOSE, POLICY, AND FUNCTION 281. Establishment. 281a. Purpose and policy. 281b. Functions. PART II—ADMINISTRATION 282. Legislative Counsel. 282a. Staff; Deputy Legislative Counsel; delegation of functions. 282b. Compensation. 282c. Expenditures. 282d. Official mail matter. 282e. Authorization of appropriations. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries CHANGE OF NAME Act June 2, 1924, ch. 234, § 1101, 43 Stat. 353, classified to sections 271 to 277 of this title, changed legislative drafting service to office of the legislative counsel, and draftsman to legislative counsel. SUBCHAPTER I—SENATE § 271. Establishment There shall be in the Senate an office to be known as the Office of the Legislative Counsel, and to be under the direction of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate. (Feb. 24, 1919, ch. 18, title XIII, § 1303(a), (d), 40 Stat. 1141; June 2, 1924, ch. 234, title XI, § 1101, 43 Stat. 353.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION As originally enacted, section provided for creation of an office of the legislative counsel to be under the di- rection of two legislative counsels. In view of non- applicability of section to Speaker, employee, etc., of the House of Representatives pursuant to section 531 of Pub. L. 91–510, set out as a note under section 281 of this title, section has been revised to limit applica- bility to Senate and creation therein of Office of Legis- lative Counsel. See section 281 of this title for provi- sions establishing Office of the Legislative Counsel for the House of Representatives and section 282 of this title for provisions vesting management, etc., in the Legislative Counsel. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SHORT TITLE OF 2025 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 118–263, § 1, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2978, provided that: ‘‘This Act [amending section 282a of this title] may be cited as the ‘House Office of Legislative Coun- sel Modernization Act’.’’ APPROPRIATIONS Act Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 753, § 204, 60 Stat. 837, provided: ‘‘There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the work of the Office of the Legislative Counsel the fol- lowing sums: ‘‘(1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1947, $150,000; ‘‘(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1948, $200,000; ‘‘(3) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1949, $250,000; ‘‘(4) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1950, $250,000; and ‘‘(5) For each fiscal year thereafter such sums as may be necessary to carry on the work of the Office.’’ [Section 204 of act Aug. 2, 1946, set out above, was made effective Aug. 2, 1946, by section 245 of act Aug. 2, 1946, set out as a note under section 4301 of this title.] § 272. Legislative Counsel The Legislative Counsel shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, with- out reference to political affiliations and solely on the ground of fitness to perform the duties of the office. (Feb. 24, 1919, ch. 18, title XIII, § 1303(a), (d), 40 Stat. 1141; June 2, 1924, ch. 234, title XI, § 1101, 43 Stat. 353; Sept. 20, 1941, ch. 412, title VI, § 602, 55 Stat. 726.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Provisions authorizing appointment of a legislative counsel for the House of Representatives by the Speak- er were omitted in view of nonapplicability of section to Speaker, employee, etc., of the House of Representa- tives pursuant to section 531 of Pub. L. 91–510, set out as a note under section 281 of this title. See section 282 of this title for provisions authorizing appointment, etc., of Legislative Counsel of the House of Representa- tives. AMENDMENTS 1941—Act Sept. 20, 1941, substituted ‘‘President pro tempore of the Senate’’ for ‘‘President of the Senate.’’ § 273. Compensation The Legislative Counsel of the Senate shall be paid at an annual rate of compensation of $40,000. (Feb. 24, 1919, ch. 18, title XIII, § 1303(d), as added June 2, 1924, ch. 234, title XI, § 1101, 43 Stat. 353; amended June 18, 1940, ch. 396, § 1, 54 Stat. 472; Sept. 20, 1941, ch. 412, title VI, § 602, 55 Stat. 726; Oct. 15, 1949, ch. 695, § 6(c), 63 Stat. 881; Aug. 5, 1955, ch. 568, §§ 9, 101, 69 Stat. 509, 514; Pub. L. 85–75, July 1, 1957, 71 Stat. 250; Pub. L. 88–426, title II, § 203(g), Aug. 14, 1964, 78 Stat. 415; Pub. L. 93–371, § 4, Aug. 13, 1974, 88 Stat. 429; Pub. L. 94–59, title I, § 105, July 25, 1975, 89 Stat. 275; Pub. L. 116–94, div. E, title II, § 212(a)(3)(A), (H), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2775, 2776.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Provisions setting forth authority for the allocation of the positions of legislative counsel to the appro- priate grade in the compensation schedules of section 1112 of former Title 5 and the setting of rates of com- pensation thereunder by the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representa- tives and prescribing the annual rate of compensation of the Legislative Counsel of the House of Representa- tives as an amount equal to $15,000, increased by an amount which is the same percentage of $15,000 as the percentage set forth in section 4(c) of the Federal Em- ployees Salary Increase Act of 1955 were omitted in