16 U.S.C. § 831e — Officers and employees; nonpolitical ap-

Page 1461 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 831h § 831e. Officers and employees; nonpolitical ap- pointment; removal for violation In the appointment of officials and the selec- tion of employees for said Corporation, and in the promotion of any such employees or offi- cials, no political test or qualification shall be permitted or given consideration, but all such appointments and promotions shall be given and made on the basis of merit and efficiency. Any member of said Board who is found by the Presi- dent of the United States to be guilty of a viola- tion of this section shall be removed from office by the President of the United States, and any appointee of said Board who is found by the Board to be guilty of a violation of this section shall be removed from office by said Board. (May 18, 1933, ch. 32, § 6, 48 Stat. 63; Pub. L. 108–447, div. C, title VI, § 603(a)(2), Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 2966.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2004—Pub. L. 108–447 substituted ‘‘Board’’ for ‘‘board’’ wherever appearing. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2004 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 108–447 effective on the later of the date on which at least three persons nominated under section 604(a) of Pub. L. 108–447 take office or May 18, 2005, see section 604(b) of Pub. L. 108–447, set out in an Appointments; Effective Date; Transition note under section 831a of this title. § 831f. Control of plants and property vested in Corporation; transfer of other property to Corporation In order to enable the Corporation to exercise the powers and duties vested in it by this chap- ter— (a) The exclusive use, possession, and control of the United States nitrate plants numbered 1 and 2, including steam plants, located, respec- tively, at Sheffield, Alabama, and Muscle Shoals, Alabama, together with all real estate and buildings connected therewith, all tools and machinery, equipment, accessories, and mate- rials belonging thereto, and all laboratories and plants used as auxiliaries thereto; the fixed-ni- trogen research laboratory, the Waco limestone quarry, in Alabama, and Dam Numbered 2, lo- cated at Muscle Shoals, its power house, and all hydroelectric and operating appurtenances (ex- cept the locks), and all machinery, lands, and buildings in connection therewith, and all ap- purtenances thereof, and all other property to be acquired by the Corporation in its own name or in the name of the United States of America, are intrusted to the Corporation for the pur- poses of this chapter. (b) The President of the United States is au- thorized to provide for the transfer to the Cor- poration of the use, possession, and control of such other real or personal property of the United States as he may from time to time deem necessary and proper for the purposes of the Corporation as herein stated. (May 18, 1933, ch. 32, § 7, 48 Stat. 63.) Executive Documents DELEGATION OF FUNCTIONS Authority of President under subsection (b) of this section to provide for transfer to Tennessee Valley Au- thority of use, possession, and control of real or per- sonal property of United States deemed by Adminis- trator of General Services to be necessary and proper for purposes of that Authority as provided for in this section, delegated to Administrator of General Serv- ices, see section 1(17) of Ex. Ord. No. 11609, July 22, 1971, 36 F.R. 13747, set out as a note under section 301 of Title 3, The President. § 831g. Principal office of Corporation; books; di- rectors’ oath (a) Location The Corporation shall maintain its principal office in the immediate vicinity of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The Corporation shall be held to be an inhabitant and resident of the northern judicial district of Alabama within the meaning of the laws of the United States relating to the venue of civil suits. (b) Account books The Corporation shall at all times maintain complete and accurate books of accounts. (c) Oath of office Each member of the Board, before entering upon the duties of his office, shall subscribe to an oath (or affirmation) to support the Constitu- tion of the United States and to faithfully and impartially perform the duties imposed upon him by this chapter. (May 18, 1933, ch. 32, § 8, 48 Stat. 63; Pub. L. 108–447, div. C, title VI, § 603(a)(2), Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 2966.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2004—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–447 substituted ‘‘Board’’ for ‘‘board’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2004 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 108–447 effective on the later of the date on which at least three persons nominated under section 604(a) of Pub. L. 108–447 take office or May 18, 2005, see section 604(b) of Pub. L. 108–447, set out in an Appointments; Effective Date; Transition note under section 831a of this title. § 831h. Annual financial statement; purchases and contracts; audit by Comptroller General (a) Financial statement and report The Board shall file with the President and with the Congress, in March of each year, a fi- nancial statement and a complete report as to the business of the Corporation covering the preceding governmental fiscal year. This report shall include an itemized statement of the cost of power at each power station, the total num- ber of employees and the names, salaries, and duties of those receiving compensation at the rate of more than $1,500 a year. (b) Bids All purchases and contracts for supplies or services, except for personal services, made by