
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 31USC703]

 
                       TITLE 31--MONEY AND FINANCE
 
                           SUBTITLE I--GENERAL
 
                  CHAPTER 7--GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE
 
           SUBCHAPTER I--DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL ORGANIZATION
 
Sec. 703. Comptroller General and Deputy Comptroller General

    (a)(1) The Comptroller General and Deputy Comptroller General are 
appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate.
    (2) When a vacancy occurs in the office of Comptroller General or 
Deputy Comptroller General, a commission is established to recommend 
individuals to the President for appointment to the vacant office. The 
commission shall be composed of--
        (A) the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
        (B) the President pro tempore of the Senate;
        (C) the majority and minority leaders of the House of 
    Representatives and the Senate;
        (D) the chairmen and ranking minority members of the Committee 
    on Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
    Government Operations of the House; and
        (E) when the office of Deputy Comptroller General is vacant, the 
    Comptroller General.

    (3) A commission established because of a vacancy in the office of 
the Comptroller General shall recommend at least 3 individuals. The 
President may ask the commission to recommend additional individuals.
    (b) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, the term 
of the Comptroller General is 15 years. The Comptroller General may not 
be reappointed. The term of the Deputy Comptroller General expires on 
the date an individual is appointed Comptroller General. The Deputy 
Comptroller General may continue to serve until a successor is 
appointed.
    (c) The Deputy Comptroller General--
        (1) carries out duties and powers prescribed by the Comptroller 
    General; and
        (2) acts for the Comptroller General when the Comptroller 
    General is absent or unable to serve or when the office of 
    Comptroller General is vacant.

    (d) The Comptroller General shall designate an officer or employee 
of the General Accounting Office to act as Comptroller General when the 
Comptroller General and Deputy Comptroller General are absent or unable 
to serve or when the offices of Comptroller General and Deputy 
Comptroller General are vacant.
    (e)(1) A Comptroller General or Deputy Comptroller General may 
retire after becoming 70 years of age and completing 10 years of service 
as Comptroller General or Deputy Comptroller General (as the case may 
be). Either may be removed at any time by--
        (A) impeachment; or
        (B) joint resolution of Congress, after notice and an 
    opportunity for a hearing, only for--
            (i) permanent disability;
            (ii) inefficiency;
            (iii) neglect of duty;
            (iv) malfeasance; or
            (v) a felony or conduct involving moral turpitude.

    (2) A Comptroller General or Deputy Comptroller General removed from 
office under paragraph (1) of this subsection may not be reappointed to 
the office.
    (f) The annual rate of basic pay of the--
        (1) Comptroller General is equal to the rate for level II of the 
    Executive Schedule; and
        (2) Deputy Comptroller General is equal to the rate for level 
    III of the Executive Schedule.

(Pub. L. 97-258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 888; Pub. L. 100-426, title 
II, Sec. 201, Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1599.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
           Revised Section                   Source (U.S. Code)                
Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
703(a)(1)............................  31:42(a)(1st sentence words     June 10,
 1921, ch. 18, Sec.  302(a)(1st
                                        after comma).                   sentenc
e words after 1st comma, last
                                                                        sentenc
e), 42 Stat. 23; Apr. 3, 1980,
                                                                        Pub. L.
 96-226, Sec.  104(a), 94 Stat.
                                                                        314.
703(a)(2), (3).......................  31:42(b).                       June 10,
 1921, ch. 18, 42 Stat. 20, Sec.
                                                                        302(b);
 added Apr. 3, 1980, Pub. L. 96-
                                                                        226, Se
c.  104(a), 94 Stat. 314.
703(b)...............................  31:43(1st par. 1st, 2d          June 10,
 1921, ch. 18, Sec.  303(1st
                                        sentence).                      par.), 
42 Stat. 23; Apr. 3, 1980, Pub.
                                                                        L. 96-2
26, Sec.  104(b)(1), 94 Stat.
                                                                        315.
703(c)...............................  31:42(a)(last sentence).
703(d)...............................  31:43a.                         June 27,
 1944, ch. 286, Sec.  101(last
                                                                        par. on
 p. 371), 58 Stat. 371.
703(e)...............................  31:43(1st par. 3d-last
                                        sentences).
703(f)...............................  31:42a.                         Aug. 14,
 1964, Pub. L. 88-426, Sec.
                                                                        203(a),
 (b), 78 Stat. 415; Dec. 16,
                                                                        1967, P
ub. L. 90-206, Sec.  219(1), 81
                                                                        Stat. 6
39; restated Aug. 9, 1975, Pub.
                                                                        L. 94-8
2, Sec.  204(b), 89 Stat. 421.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

    In subsections (a)(1), (b), (d), and (e), the word ``Deputy'' is 
substituted for ``Assistant'' because of section 101 of the Act of July 
9, 1971 (Pub. L. 92-51, 85 Stat. 143).
    In subsection (a)(1), the words ``The Comptroller General and Deputy 
Comptroller General'' are added because of the restatement. The words 
``by and'' are added for consistency. The words ``and shall receive 
salaries of $10,000 and $7,500 a year, respectively'' in section 
302(a)(1st sentence words after 2d comma) of the Budget and Accounting 
Act, 1921 (ch. 18, 42 Stat. 23), are omitted as superseded by subsection 
(f) of this section.
    In subsection (a)(2), before clause (A), the words ``after April 3, 
1980'' are omitted as executed. In clause (E), the words ``of the United 
States'' are omitted as surplus.
    In subsection (a)(3), the words ``because of a vacancy in the office 
of the Comptroller General'' are substituted for ``under paragraph (1)'' 
for clarity. The word ``recommend'' is substituted for ``submit'' and 
``submitted'' for consistency. The words ``to the President for 
consideration the names of'', ``for the Office of Comptroller General'', 
and ``within his discretion'' are omitted as surplus.
    In subsection (b), the words ``the term of . . . is 15 years'' are 
substituted for ``shall hold office for fifteen years'' for consistency. 
The words ``eligible for'' are omitted as surplus. The words ``the term 
of . . . expires on'' are substituted for ``shall hold office from the 
date of his appointment until'' to eliminate unnecessary words and for 
consistency. The words ``to fill a vacancy in the Office of'' are 
omitted as surplus.
    In subsection (c), the words ``carries out duties and powers 
prescribed'' are substituted for ``perform such duties as may be 
assigned'' for consistency. The words ``to him'' are omitted as surplus.
    In subsection (d), the words ``officer or'' are added for 
consistency in the revised title. The text of section 101(last par. on 
p. 371 words before colon) of the Act of June 27, 1944 (ch. 286, 58 
Stat. 371), is omitted as expired.
    In subsection (e)(1), before clause (A), the words ``from his 
office'' are omitted as surplus. In clause (A), the words ``and for no 
other cause and in no other manner'' are omitted as surplus. In clause 
(B), before subclause (i), the words ``opportunity for a'' are added for 
consistency. The words ``guilty of'' are omitted as surplus. In 
subclause (i), the word ``disability'' is substituted for 
``incapacitated'' for consistency in the chapter and with title 5. In 
subclause (iv), the words ``in office'' are omitted as surplus.
    In subsection (e)(2), the words ``from office'' are added for 
clarity.
    In subsection (f), before clause (1), the words ``basic pay'' are 
substituted for ``compensation'' for consistency with other titles of 
the United States Code. In clauses (1) and (2), the words ``of the 
United States'' and ``positions at'' are omitted as surplus. In clause 
(1), the words ``of subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 5'' are omitted 
as surplus.


                               Amendments

    1988--Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 100-426 substituted ``may retire after 
becoming 70 years of age and completing 10 years of service as 
Comptroller General or Deputy Comptroller General (as the case may be)'' 
for ``retires on becoming 70 years of age''.

                         Change of Name

    Committee on Government Operations of House of Representatives 
treated as referring to Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of 
House of Representatives by section 1(a) of Pub. L. 104-14, set out as a 
note preceding section 21 of Title 2, The Congress. Committee on 
Government Reform and Oversight of House of Representatives changed to 
Committee on Government Reform of House of Representatives by House 
Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Jan. 6, 1999.


                    Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 100-426 effective after end of 60-day period 
beginning Sept. 9, 1988, with certain exceptions, see section 208 of 
Pub. L. 100-426, set out as a note under section 772 of this title.


                            Salary Increases

    1987--Salaries of Comptroller General and Deputy Comptroller General 
increased respectively to $89,500 and $82,500 per annum, on 
recommendation of the President of the United States, see note set out 
under section 358 of Title 2, The Congress.
    1977--Salaries of Comptroller General and Deputy Comptroller General 
increased respectively to $57,500 and $52,500 per annum, on 
recommendation of the President of the United States, see note set out 
under section 358 of Title 2.
    1969--Salaries of Comptroller General and Assistant Comptroller 
General increased respectively to $42,500 and $40,000 per annum, on 
recommendation of the President of the United States, see note set out 
under section 358 of Title 2.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 735, 772 of this title; 
title 2 section 356.
