---
kind: "section"
citation: "2 U.S.C. § 1432"
title: "2"
title_heading: "The Congress"
number: "1432"
heading: "Political affiliation and place of residence"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/2/1432"
units:
  - "Chapter 24 — Congressional Accountability"
  - "Subchapter V — Miscellaneous Provisions"
---

# §1432. Political affiliation and place of residence

- (a) **In general—** It shall not be a violation of any provision of [section 1311 of this title](/usc/2/1311.md) to consider the—
  - (1) party affiliation;
  - (2) domicile; or
  - (3) political compatibility with the [employing office](/usc/2/1301.md?p=a-9);

  of an [employee](/usc/2/1301.md?p=a-4) referred to in [subsection (b)](#b) with respect to employment decisions.

- (b) **“Employee” defined—** For purposes of [subsection (a)](#a), the term “[employee](/usc/2/1301.md?p=a-4)” means—
  - (1) an [employee](/usc/2/1301.md?p=a-4) on the staff of the leadership of the House of Representatives or the leadership of the Senate;
  - (2) an [employee](/usc/2/1301.md?p=a-4) on the staff of a committee or subcommittee of—
    - (A) the House of Representatives;
    - (B) the Senate; or
    - (C) a joint committee of the Congress;
  - (3) an [employee](/usc/2/1301.md?p=a-4) on the staff of a [Member](/usc/2/4556.md?p=2) of the House of Representatives or on the staff of a Senator;
  - (4) an officer of the House of Representatives or the Senate or a congressional [employee](/usc/2/1301.md?p=a-4) who is elected by the House of Representatives or Senate or is appointed by a [Member](/usc/2/4556.md?p=2) of the House of Representatives or by a Senator (in addition an [employee](/usc/2/1301.md?p=a-4) described in paragraph [(1)](#b-1), [(2)](#b-2), or [(3)](#b-3)); or
  - (5) an applicant for a position that is to be occupied by an individual described in any of paragraphs [(1)](#b-1) through [(4)](#b-4).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 104–1, title V, § 502, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 39.)