2016 US Code
Title 2 - The Congress
Chapter 9 - Office of Legislative Counsel
Subchapter I - Senate
Sec. 274 - Staff; office equipment and supplies

The Legislative Counsel shall, subject to the approval of the President pro tempore of the Senate, employ and fix the compensation of such Assistant Counsel, clerks, and other employees, and purchase such furniture, office equipment, books, stationery, and other supplies, as may be necessary for the proper performance of the duties of the Office and as may be appropriated for by Congress.

(Feb. 24, 1919, ch. 18, title XIII, §1303(a), (d), 40 Stat. 1141; June 2, 1924, ch. 234, title XI, §1101, 43 Stat. 353; Sept. 20, 1941, ch. 412, title VI, §602, 55 Stat. 726.)

As originally enacted, section also provided for legislative counsel of House of Representatives, subject to approval of Speaker, to employ and fix the compensation of assistant counsel, clerks, etc. In view of nonapplicability of section to Speaker, employee, etc., of the House of Representatives pursuant to section 531 of Pub. L. 91–510, set out as a note under section 281 of this title, section has been revised to limit applicability to authority of Legislative Counsel of the Senate. See section 282a et seq. of this title for provisions relating to appointment of staff, etc., for Office of Legislative Counsel of the House of Representatives.

1941—Act Sept. 20, 1941, substituted "President pro tempore of the Senate" for "President of the Senate".

Pub. L. 106–57, title I, §6, Sept. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 412, provided that: "The Legislative Counsel may, subject to the approval of the President pro tempore of the Senate, designate one of the Senior Counsels appointed under section 102 of the Legislative Branch Appropriation Act, 1979 (2 U.S.C. 274 note; Public Law 95–391; 92 Stat. 771) as Deputy Legislative Counsel. The Deputy Legislative Counsel shall perform the functions of the Legislative Counsel during the absence or disability of the Legislative Counsel, or when the office is vacant."

Pub. L. 85–75, July 1, 1957, 71 Stat. 251, provided in part that: "No more than three employees in the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate may be designated as Senior Counsel, whose compensation shall be $15,500 gross per annum each."

Pub. L. 95–391, title I, §102, Sept. 30, 1978, 92 Stat. 771, provided that: "Effective October 1, 1978, the number of employees in the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate who may be designated as, and receive the compensation of, a Senior Counsel is increased to five."

Pub. L. 88–248, Dec. 30, 1963, 77 Stat. 804, provided in part: "That effective July 1, 1963, one additional employee in the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate may be designated as Senior Counsel, and the compensation of the additional employee so designated shall be equal to the gross per annum rate presently authorized for other employees so designated."

Pub. L. 94–59, title I, §105, July 25, 1975, 89 Stat. 275, eff. July 1, 1975, provided in part that the four Senior Counsels in the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate shall each be paid at an annual rate of compensation of $39,000.

Pub. L. 93–371, §4, Aug. 13, 1974, 88 Stat. 429, eff. July 1, 1974, provided in part that the four Senior Counsels in the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate shall each be paid at an annual rate of compensation of $37,620.

Adjustment in compensation by Pub. L. 93–371 not to supersede order of President pro tempore of the Senate authorizing higher rate of compensation or any authority of the President pro tempore to adjust rates of compensation or limitations under section 4 of the Federal Pay Comparability Act of 1970, see section 4 of Pub. L. 93–371, set out in part as a note under section 6531 of this title.

Increases in compensation for officers and employees of the Senate under authority of the Federal Pay Comparability Act of 1970 (Pub. L. 91–656), see Salary Directives of the President pro tempore of the Senate, set out as notes under section 4571 of this title.