2 U.S.C. § 1432

1. (a)It shall not be a violation of any provision of section 1311 of this title to consider the—of an employee referred to in subsection (b) with respect to employment decisions.
   1. (1)party affiliation;
   2. (2)domicile; or
   3. (3)political compatibility with the employing office;
2. (b)For purposes of subsection (a), the term “employee” means—
   1. (1)an employee on the staff of the leadership of the House of Representatives or the leadership of the Senate;
   2. (2)an employee on the staff of a committee or subcommittee of—
      1. (A)the House of Representatives;
      2. (B)the Senate; or
      3. (C)a joint committee of the Congress;
   3. (3)an employee on the staff of a Member of the House of Representatives or on the staff of a Senator;
   4. (4)an officer of the House of Representatives or the Senate or a congressional employee who is elected by the House of Representatives or Senate or is appointed by a Member of the House of Representatives or by a Senator (in addition an employee described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3)); or
   5. (5)an applicant for a position that is to be occupied by an individual described in any of paragraphs (1) through (4).