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Every four years, just after the Presidential election, the "United
States Government Policy and Supporting Positions" is published.
It is commonly known as the Plum Book and is alternately published between
the House and Senate.
The Plum Book is a listing of over 9,000 civil service leadership and
support positions (filled and vacant) in the Legislative and Executive
branches of the Federal Government that may be subject to noncompetitive
appointments. These positions include agency heads and their immediate
subordinates, policy executives and advisors, and aides who report to
these officials. Many positions have duties which support Administration
policies and programs. The people holding these positions usually have
a close and confidential relationship with the agency head or other key
officials.
Executive Schedule (EX) and salary-equivalent positions paid
at the rates established for Levels I through V of the Executive Schedule.
Senior Executive Service (SES) "General"
positions (i.e., those positions which may be filled by a career, noncareer,
or limited appointment) *
Senior Foreign Service (FS) positions *
Schedule C (SC) positions excepted from the competitive
service by the President, or by the Director, Office of Personnel Management,
because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position
duties
Other confidential or policy-determining positions
at the GS-14 and above level excepted from the competitive civil service
by law because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the
position duties
* The majority of SES and FS positions are filled by career appointment because
of the statutory limitations on the number that may be filled by noncareer
appointment.
What positions are excluded from the Plum Book?
Senior Executive Service (SES) "Career Reserved" positions (those
positions that can be filled only by career appointment)
Schedule A and Schedule B positions
Competitive Service positions
Other positions filled competitively under agency merit systems established
by statute (i.e., GS grade equivalent (GG) positions in certain agencies)
