1. The United States Civil Service Commission shall have authority to prescribe regulations in pursuance of and for the execution of the provisions of these rules and of the civil-service act.
2. The several terms hereinafter mentioned, wherever used in these rules or the regulations of the Commission, shall be construed as follows:
(a) The term "civil-service act" refers to "An act to regulate and improve the civil service of the United States," approved January 16, 1883.
(b) The term "classified service" refers to all that part of the executive civil service of the United States included within the provisions of the civil-service act.
(c) The term "grade" in connection with employees or positions refers to a group of employees or positions in the classified service arranged upon the basis of duties performed, without regard to salaries received.
(d) The term "class" in connection with employees or positions refers to a group of employees or positions in any grade arranged upon the basis of salaries received, in pursuance of the provisions of section 163 of the Revised Statutes and of section 6 of the civil-service act.
(e) The term "excepted position" refers to any position within the provisions of the civil-service act, but excepted from the requirement of competitive examination or registration for appointment thereto.
RULE II.
1. Any person in the executive civil service of the United States who shall willfully violate any of the provisions of the civil-service act or of these rules shall be dismissed from office.
2. No person in the executive civil service shall use his official authority or official influence for the purpose of interfering with an election or controlling the result thereof.