---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 5112"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "5112"
heading: "General authority of the Office of Personnel Management"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/5112"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart D — Pay and Allowances"
  - "Chapter 51 — Classification"
---

# §5112. General authority of the Office of Personnel Management

- (a) Notwithstanding [section 5107 of this title](/usc/5/5107.md), the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) of Personnel Management may—
  - (1) ascertain currently the facts as to the duties, responsibilities, and qualification requirements of a [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3);
  - (2) place in an appropriate class and [grade](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-5) a newly created [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) or a [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) coming initially under this chapter;
  - (3) decide whether a [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) is in its appropriate class and [grade](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-5); and
  - (4) change a [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) from one class or [grade](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-5) to another class or [grade](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-5) when the facts warrant.

  The [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) shall certify to the [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) concerned its action under paragraph (2) or (4) of this subsection. The [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) shall act in accordance with the certificate, and the certificate is binding on all administrative, certifying, payroll, disbursing, and accounting officials.

- (b) An [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) affected or an [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) may request at any time that the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) exercise the [authority](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-6) granted to it by [subsection (a)](#a) of this section and the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) shall act on the request.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 456; Pub. L. 95–454, title IX, § 906(a)(2), (3), (17), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1224, 1226.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and<br>Statutes at Large |
|  | 5 U.S.C. 1101. | Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, § 501, 63 Stat. 958. |

In subsection (a), the words “which may be exercised at any time in its discretion” are omitted as redundant. The words “is binding on all administrative, certifying, payroll, disbursing, and accounting officials” are substituted for “shall be binding on all administrative, certifying, payroll, disbursing, and accounting officers of the Government” to preserve the application to members of the uniformed services.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1978—Pub. L. 95–454, § 906(a)(17), substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission” in section catchline.

Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 95–454, § 906(a)(2), (3), substituted “Office of Personnel Management” and “Office” for “Civil Service Commission” and “Commission”, respectively, wherever appearing.

### 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 this title.