---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 4762"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "4762"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/4762"
units:
  - "Chapter 62 — Intergovernmental Personnel Program"
  - "Subchapter IV — General Provisions"
---

# §4762. Definitions


For the purpose of this chapter—

- (1) “Office” means the Office of Personnel Management;
- (2) “Federal agency” means an executive department, military department, independent establishment, or [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) in the executive branch of the Government of the United States, including Government owned or controlled [corporations](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2);
- (3) “State” means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and a territory or possession of the United States, and includes interstate and Federal-interstate agencies but does not include the governments of the political subdivisions of a State;
- (4) “local government” means a city, town, county, or other subdivision or district of a [State](#3), including [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), instrumentalities, and authorities of any of the foregoing and any combination of such units or combination of such units and a [State](#3). A “general local government” means a city, town, county, or comparable general-purpose political subdivision of a [State](#3); and
- (5) Notwithstanding the population requirements of sections [4723(a)](/usc/42/4723.md?p=a) and [4743(c)](/usc/42/4743.md?p=c) of this title, a “[local government](#4)” and a “general [local government](#4)” also mean the recognized governing body of an Indian tribe, band, pueblo, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village, as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688) [[43 U.S.C. 1601](/usc/43/1601.md) et seq.], which performs substantial governmental functions. The requirements of sections [4723(c)](/usc/42/4723.md?p=c) and [4743(d)](/usc/42/4743.md?p=d) of this title, relating to reviews by the Governor of a [State](#3), do not apply to grant applications from the governing body of an Indian tribe, although nothing in this chapter is intended to discourage or prohibit voluntary communication and cooperation between Indian tribes and [State](#3) and [local governments](#4).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–648, title V, § 502, Jan. 5, 1971, 84 Stat. 1925; Pub. L. 93–638, title I, § 104(d), formerly § 105(d), Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2208, renumbered § 104(d), Pub. L. 100–472, title II, § 203(a), Oct. 5, 1988, 102 Stat. 2290; Pub. L. 95–454, title VI, § 602(d), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1189; 1978 Reorg. Plan No. 2, § 102, eff. Jan. 1, 1979, 43 F.R. 36037, 92 Stat. 3783.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, means the provisions of subchapters I, II, III, and IV of this chapter. See section 4761 of this title.

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred to in par. (5), is Pub. L. 92–203, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 688, which is classified generally to chapter 33 (§ 1601 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1601 of Title 43 and Tables.

### Amendments

1978—Par. (3). Pub. L. 95–454 inserted reference to Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

1975—Par. (5). Pub. L. 93–638 added par. (5).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–454 effective 90 days after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 907 of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as a note under section 1101 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

### Executive Documents

### Transfer of Functions

“Office” and “Office of Personnel Management” substituted for “Commission” and “Civil Service Commission”, respectively, in par. (1), pursuant to Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1978, § 102, 43 F.R. 36037, 92 Stat. 3783, set out under section 1101 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, which transferred all functions vested by statute in Civil Service Commission and Chairman thereof to Director of Office of Personnel Management (except as otherwise specified), effective Jan. 1, 1979, as provided by section 1–102 of Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, set out under section 1101 of Title 5.

### Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding section 1681 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions.