Us Code § 4701 - Congressional findings and declaration of policy
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 4701 — Congressional findings and declaration of policy, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 4701. Congressional findings and declaration of policy
The Congress hereby finds and declares—
That effective State and local governmental institutions are essential in the maintenance and development of the Federal system in an increasingly complex and interdependent society.
That, since numerous governmental activities administered by the State and local governments are related to national purpose and are financed in part by Federal funds, a national interest exists in a high caliber of public service in State and local governments.
That the quality of public service at all levels of government can be improved by the development of systems of personnel administration consistent with such merit principles as—
(1) recruiting, selecting, and advancing employees on the basis of their relative ability, knowledge, and skills, including open consideration of qualified applicants for initial appointment;
(2) providing equitable and adequate compensation;
(3) training employees, as needed, to assure high-quality performance;
(4) retaining employees on the basis of the adequacy of their performance, correcting inadequate performance, and separating employees whose inadequate performance cannot be corrected;
(5) assuring fair treatment of applicants and employees in all aspects of personnel administration without regard to political affiliation, race, color, national origin, sex, or religious creed and with proper regard for their privacy and constitutional rights as citizens; and
(6) assuring that employees are protected against coercion for partisan political purposes and are prohibited from using their official authority for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election or a nomination for office.
That Federal financial and technical assistance to State and local governments for strengthening their personnel administration in a manner consistent with these principles is in the national interest.
(Pub. L. 91–648, §2, Jan. 5, 1971, 84 Stat. 1909.)
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title
Pub. L. 91–648, §1, Jan. 5, 1971, 84 Stat. 1909, provided: "That this Act [enacting this chapter and sections 3371 to 3376 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, amending section 246(f) of this title, section 1304 of Title 5, repealing sections 1881 to 1888 of Title 7, Agriculture, and section 869b of Title 20, Education, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 3371 of Title 5] may be cited as the 'Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970'."
About This Section
42 U.S.C. § 4701 is part of Title 42 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 42 U.S.C. § 4701. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.