2012 US Code
Title 15 - Commerce and Trade
Chapter 40 - DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (§§ 1501 - 1542)
Section 1508 - General Counsel

There shall be in the Department of Commerce a General Counsel, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(Mar. 18, 1904, ch. 716, §1, 33 Stat. 135; July 17, 1952, ch. 932, §2, 66 Stat. 758; Aug. 20, 1954, ch. 776, 68 Stat. 753.)

Provisions of section that fixed the compensation of the General Counsel have been omitted as the position is under the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Section was formerly classified to section 592b of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5 by Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

1954—Act Aug. 20, 1954, established rate of compensation.

1952—Act July 17, 1952, redesignated Solicitor as General Counsel and provided that “all laws and orders relating or referring to the Solicitor shall be deemed to relate or refer to the General Counsel”.

For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of Commerce, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of Commerce, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out as a note under section 1501 of this title.

For order of succession during any period when both Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Commerce are unable to perform functions and duties of office of Secretary, see Ex. Ord. No. 13242, Dec. 18, 2001, 66 F.R. 66260, listed in a table under section 3345 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.