The provisions of title 5 governing appointments in the competitive service, referred to in par. (4), are classified to section 3301 et seq. of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

In par. (9), “section 3324 (a) and (b) of title 31” substituted for “section 3648 of the Revised Statutes, as amended (21 [31] U.S.C. 529)” on authority of Pub. L. 97–258, § 4(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1067, the first section of which enacted Title 31, Money and Finance.

References in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, § 101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out in a note under section 5376 of Title 5.