ance or grievances to the Congress or any Member thereof shall not constitute or be cause for reduction in rank or compensation or removal of such person or groups of persons from said service. (d) Right to petition Congress.-The right of persons employed in the civil service of the United States, either individually or collectively, to petition Congress, or any Member thereof, or to furnish information to either House of Congress, or to any committee or member thereof, shall not be denied or interfered with. (As amended June 10, 1948, ch. 447, 62 Stat. 354.) 1948 Amendment.-Act June 10, 1948, cited to text, amended section generally to provide payment of compensation covering periods of separation to employees improperly removed or suspended without pay from the Federal service, less amounts earned by such employees through employment during such periods. Confiscation of salary of employee removed for cause, see section 46a of this title. CHAPTER 13.-CLASSIFICATION OF CIVILIAN POSITIONS § 661. Repealed. Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, Title XII, § 1202(1), 63 Stat. Section, Act Mar. 4, 1923, ch. 265, § 1, 42 Stat. 1488, related to short title of Act and is not now covered. Similar provisions relating to Act Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, 63 Stat. —, are set out as a note under section 1071 of this title. Effective date.-Repeal of section effective as of the first day of the first pay period which begins after Oct. 28, 1949, see note set out under section 1071 of this title. § 662. Repealed. Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, Title XII, § 1202(1), (5), 63 Stat. Section, as amended June 20, 1929, ch. 33, 3, 46 Stat. 38; June 30, 1932, ch. 314, § 505, 47 Stat. 416; Aug. 1, 1941, ch. 346, § 1, 55 Stat. 613, related to definitions and is now covered by section 1091 of this title. Effective date.-Repeal of section effective as of the first day of the first pay period which begins after Oct. 28, 1949, see note set out under section 1071 of this title. § 663. Repealed. Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, Title XII, § 1202(1), (4), (5), (9), 63 Stat. Section, as amended July 3, 1930, ch. 850; § 6, 46 Stat. 1005; June 30, 1932, ch. 314,505, 47 Stat. 416; June 30, 1945, ch. 212, Title IV, § 401, 59 Stat. 298, related to rules and regulations, classification, etc., and is now covered by subchapter IV of chapter 21 of this title. Effective date.-Repeal of section effective as of the first day of the first pay period which begins after Oct. 28, 1949, see note set out under section 1071 of this title. §§ 663a, 663b. Appropriations for and director of Board Sections, Act July 3, 1930, ch. 850, §§ 5, 6, 46 Stat. 1005, were omitted from the Code. They related to the Personnel Classification Board and the Director of Classification. Both the Board and the Director were abolished by Act June 30, 1932, ch. 314, § 505, 47 Stat. 416. See notes under sections 662, 663 of this title. 88 664-669. Repealed. Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, Title XII, § 1202(1), (5-7), (9), 63 Stat. Section 664, as amended June 30, 1932, ch. 314, § 505, 47 Stat. 416, related to allocation of positions to grades and fixing rates of compensation by department heads, etc., and is now covered by sections 1102 and 1103 of this title. Section 665, related to application of compensation schedules, and is covered by sections 1081-1085 of this title. Section 666, related to rules governing fixing of compensation schedules, and is now covered by sections 1131-1133 of this title. Section 667, as amended Aug. 1, 1941, ch. 346, § 2, 55 Stat. 613; June 30, 1945, ch. 212, Title IV, §§ 402-404, 59 Stat. 299, related to increases in compensation, and is now covered by sections 1121-1125 of this title. Section 668, related to existing preferences in appointments, and is now covered by section 1075 of this title. Section 669, as amended June 30, 1932, ch. 314, § 505, 47 Stat. 416; Nov. 26, 1940, ch. 919, Title II, § 7, 54 Stat. 1215; Aug. 1, 1941, ch. 346, § 3, 55 Stat. 614, related to efficiency ratings, and is now covered by sections 1141 and 1142 of this title. Effective date.-Repeal of section effective as of the first day of the first pay period which begins after Oct. 28, 1949, see note set out under section 1071 of this title. § 669a. Repealed. Sept. 30, 1950, ch. 1123, § 11 (2), 64 Stat. Section, Act July 31, 1946, ch. 720, § 1, 60 Stat. 751, as amended by 1949 Reorg. Plan No. 5, eff. Aug. 19, 1949, 14 F.R. 5227, 63 Stat. 1007, related to efficiency ratings. Section 2 of said Act July 31, 1946, which related to the effective date of that Act and was set out as a note under this section, was also repealed. Performance ratings are now covered by sections 2001-2007 of this title. Effective date.-Repeal as effective 90 days after Sept. 30, 1950, see note under section 2001 of this title. §§ 670-673b. Repealed. Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, Title XII, § 1202(1– 5), (7-10), 63 Stat. Section 670, related to transfer or promotion of employees, and is now covered by section 1132 of this title. Section 671, related to temporary appointments not made permanent, and is not now covered. Section 672, related to readjustment of compensation rates, is now covered by section 1114 of this title. Section 672a, Act June 30, 1945, ch. 212, Title IV, § 405 (a, c), 59 Stat. 300, 301, related to increase in basic compensation rates, and is now covered by section 1113 of this title. Section 672b, Act May 24, 1946, ch. 270, § 2(a, c), 60 Stat. 216, related to additional increase in compensation, and is now covered by section 1113 of this title. Section 672c, Act May 24, 1946, ch. 270, § 12(c), 60 Stat. 219, related to additional increases for certain grades of Crafts, Protective, and Custodial Service, and is now covered by section 1113 of this title. Section 673, as amended May 28, 1928, ch. 814, § 1, 45 Stat. 776; July 3, 1930, ch. 850, 1, 46 Stat. 1003; Aug. 23, 1935, ch. 617, 49 Stat. 724; Aug. 1, 1941, ch. 346, 4, 55 Stat. 614; Aug. 1, 1942, ch. 543; § 1, 56 Stat. 733; June 30, 1945, ch. 212, Title IV, § 405 (b), 59 Stat. 300; May 24, 1946, ch. 270, §§ 2(b), 12(a, b), 60 Stat. 216, 219 related to compensation schedules, and is now covered by section 1112 of this title. Section 673a, May 28, 1928, ch. 814, § 4, 45 Stat. 785, related to inapplicability of former section 673 to employees of Government Printing Office, and is now covered by section 1082 of this title. Section 673b, Acts July 3, 1930, ch. 850, § 4, 46 Stat. 1005; June 30, 1932, ch. 314,505, 47 Stat. 416, related to ascertainment of duties and responsibilities of positions, and is now covered by section 1101 of this title. Effective date.-Repeal of section effective as of the first day of the first pay period which begins after Oct. 28, 1949, see note set out under section 1071 of this title. § 674. Repealed. Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, Title XII, § 1202(1), 63 Stat. Effective date.-Repeal of section effective as of the first day of the first pay period which begins after Oct. 28, 1949, see note set out under section 1071 of this title. §§ 678, 678a. Repealed. Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, Title XII, § 1202 (3), (4), 63 Stat. -- Section 678, Acts May 28, 1928, ch. 814, § 3, 45 Stat. 785; June 16, 1933, ch. 101, 17, 48 Stat, 308, related to adjustment of salaries of persons in the field services, and is not now covered. Section 678a, Act July 3, 1930, ch. 850, § 2, 46 Stat. 1005, related to further adjustment of salaries of persons in the field services, and is not now covered. Effective date.-Repeal of section effective as of the first day of the first pay period which begins after Oct. 28, 1949, see note set out under section 1071 of this title. §§ 681-684. Repealed. Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, Title XII, § 1202(6–8), 63 Stat. Section 681, Acts Nov. 26, 1940, ch. 919, Title II, § 3, 54 Stat. 1212; Aug. 1, 1941, ch. 346, § 5(a), 55 Stat. 615; Aug. 1 1942, ch. 543, § 2(b), 56 Stat. 735; Aug. 13, 1946, ch. 957, Title IV, § 446, 60 Stat. 1006, related to extension of Classification Act of 1923, and is not now covered. Section 682-684, Act Nov. 26, 1940, ch. 919, Title II, §§ 4-6, 54 Stat. 1214, 1215, related to exclusion of certain officers from effects of extension of said Classification Act of 1923, etc., and are not now covered. Effective date.-Repeal of section effective as of the first day of the first pay period which begins after Oct. 28, 1949, see note set out under section 1071 of this title. Chapter 14.-RETIREMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES § 691. Voluntary retirement; involuntary retirement of disqualified employees; retirement of investigatory personnel; annuity payments after certain periods of service-(a) Annuity rate upon voluntary separation at certain age. Any officer or employee to whom sections 691, 693, 693-1, 707, 708, 709-715, 716 to 719—1, 720-722, 724, 725, 727-729, 730, 731, 733, 736b and 736c of this title apply who shall have attained or shall hereafter attain the age of sixty years and have rendered at least thirty years of service computed as prescribed in section 707 of this title, or who shall have attained or shall hereafter attain the age of sixty-two years and have rendered at least fifteen years of such service, shall, upon separation from the service, be paid an annuity computed as provided in section 698 of this title. (b) Annuity rate reduction upon voluntary separation at age 55.Any officer or employee to whom sections 691, 693, 693-1, 707, 708, 709-715, 716 to 719-1, 720-722, 724, 725, 727-729, 730, 731, 733, 736b, and 736c of this title apply who shall have attained or shall hereafter attain the age of fifty-five years and have rendered at least thirty years of service computed as prescribed in section 707 of this title shall, upon separation from the service, be paid an annuity computed as provided in section 698 of this title, reduced by one-fourth of 1 per centum for each full month such officer or employee is under the age of sixty years. (c) Annuity rate reduction upon involuntary separation at age 55; effective date.-Any officer or employee to whom sections 691, 693, 693-1, 707, 708, 709–715, 716 to 719-1, 720-722, 724, 725, 727729, 730, 731, 733, 736b and 736c of this title apply after having rendered at least twenty-five years of service computed as prescribed in section 707 of this title, shall, upon involuntary separation from the service not by removal for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency, be paid an immediate life annuity computed as provided in section 698 of this title reduced by one-fourth of 1 per centum for each full month such officer or employee is under the age of sixty years. This subsection shall become effective as of July 1, 1945. (d) Investigatory personnel.-Any officer or employee to whom sections 691, 693, 693—1, 698, 707, 708, 709–715, 716 to 719-1, 720-725, 727-729, 730, 731, 733, 736b, and 736c of this title apply the duties of whose position are primarily the investigation, apprehension, or detention of persons suspected or convicted of offenses against the criminal laws of the United States (including any officer or employee engaged in such activity who has been transferred to a supervisory or administrative position) who is at least fifty years of age, and who has rendered twenty years of service or more in the performance of such duties (including the duties of a supervisory or administrative officer or employee) may, on his own application and upon the recommendation of the head of the department or agency in which he is serving, and with the approval of the Civil Service Commission, retire from the service; and the annuity of such officer or employee shall be equal to 2 per centum of his average basic salary for any five consecutive years of allowable service at the option of such officer or employee, multiplied by the number of years of service, not exceeding thirty years. The Civil Service Commission shall, upon recommendation by the head of the department or agency involved, determine whether such officer or employee is entitled to retirement under this subsection. In making such determination, the Commission shall give full consideration to the degree of hazard to which such officer or employee is subjected in the performance of his duties, rather than the general duties of the class of the position held by such officer or employee. (e) Life annuity at age 55; effective date. Any officer or employee to whom sections 691, 693, 698, 707, 708, 709-715, 716 to 719-1, 720-725, 727-729, 730, 731, 733, 736b, and 736c of this title apply who, after having attained the age of fifty-five and after having rendered at least twenty-five years of service computed as prescribed in section 707 of this title, (1) shall have been involuntarily separated from the service not by removal for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency between July 1, 1945, and June 30, 1947, both dates inclusive; or (2) shall have been voluntarily separated from the service between such dates if such officer or employee had accepted a position with a lower rate of basic salary, pay, or compensation after having been involuntarily separated (not by removal for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency) between such dates from a position with a higher rate of basic salary, pay, or compensation, and was receiving less than such higher rate at the time of his voluntary separation, shall be paid an immediate life annuity beginning on the first day of the month following the date of final separation from the service. Such annuity shall have a value equal to an annuity computed as provided in section 698 of this title reduced by one-sixth of 1 per centum for each full month any such officer or employee is (A) under the age of sixty years if he has rendered at least thirty years of service computed as prescribed in section 707 of this title, or (B) under the age of sixty-two years if he has rendered less than thirty years of service computed as prescribed in section 707 of this title. (As amended July 3, 1926, ch. 801, § 1, 44 Stat. 904; May 29, 1930, ch. 349, § 1, 46 Stat. 468; Jan. 24, 1942, ch. 16, § 1, 56 Stat. 13; Mar. 7, 1942, ch. 166, § 16(a), 56 Stat. 147; Aug. 8, 1946, ch. 908, 60 Stat. 939; July 11, 1947, ch. 219, 61 Stat. 307; Feb. 28, 1948, ch. 84, § 1, 62 Stat. 48; July 2, 1948, ch. 807, 62 Stat. 1221; Aug. 16, 1949, ch. 443, 63 Stat. 609; 1949 Reorg. Plan No. 5, eff. Aug. 19, 1949, 14 F.R. 5227, 63 Stat. -; Aug. 25, 1949, ch. 511, § 1, 63 Stat. 663.) Amendments. Subsec. (c) amended by Act. Aug. 25, 1949, cited to text, to change to effective date from July 1, 1947, to July 1, 1945. Subsec. (d) amended by Act Aug. 16, 1949, cited to text, to provide for using the standard provision for computing the retirement of employees which is any consecutive 5 years of service at the option of the employee. Subsec. (d) amended by Act July 2, 1948, cited to text, to provide for annuities to any officer or employee who performs duties which are primarily the investigation, apprehension, or detention of persons suspected or convicted of offenses against the United States, and who is 50 years of age and has 20 years' service in such positions. Act Feb. 28, 1948, cited to text, amended section generally by providing reduction in annuity rate upon retirement at certain age, removing the 55-age limitation in cases of involuntary separation from the service and providing for a percentage deduction in the annuity rate, and reenacted provision relating to the personnel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Subsec. (b) amended by Act July 11, 1947, which added paragraph (i) providing for retirement of specified employees of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and rate of retirement annuity. Subsec. (e) added by Act Aug. 8, 1946, cited to text. Act Jan. 24, 1942, cited to text, amended section by striking out former provisions and substituting new text. Subsec. (c) was amended by Act Mar. 7, 1942, cited to text, which struck out "any elective officer," after retirement of" in last sentence thereof. Effective date.-Section 15 of Act Feb. 28, 1948, cited to text, provided that except as otherwise provided by the amendments of section 691, 693(a), 698, 707, 710, 711, 713, 715, 718, 719, 719-1, 724, 725, 733, 736b, 736c of this title by said Act Feb. 28, 1948, said Act Feb. 28, 1948, should become effective on the first day of the second month following the month of February, 1948. Effective date of Act June 29, 1946.-Section 3 of Act June 29, 1946, ch. 519, 60 Stat. 339, provided: "This Act shall become effective on the first day of the second calendar month following the month in which this Act is enacted.” § 693. Employees included.—(a) This chapter shall apply to all officers and employees in or under the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of the United States Government, and to all officers and employees of the municipal government of the District of Columbia, except elective officers in the executive branch of the Government, and to all officers and employees of the National Library for the Blind at the election of such officers and employees as herein provided, and to all officers and employees of the Columbia Institution for the Deaf: Provided, That this chapter shall not apply to any such officer or employee of the United States or of the municipal government of the District of Columbia subject to another retirement system for such officers and employees of such governments: Provided further, That this chapter shall not apply to any officer or employee in the legislative branch of the Government within the classes of officers and employees which were made eligible for the benefits of this chapter by sections 693b-693d, 698b, 715d, and 719a of this title, until he gives notice in writing to the disbursing officer by whom his salary is paid, of his desire to come within the purview of this chapter; and any officer or employee within such classes may, within sixty days after January 24, 1942, withdraw from the purview of this chapter by giving similar notice of such desire. In the case of any officer or employce in the service of the legislative branch of the Government on January 24, 1942, such notice of desire to |