republic-os/legal/us/code/title-05/chapter-5/section-500.md

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LegalText	5 U.S.C. § 500	Administrative practice; general provisions	us	united_states_code	code_section	5	GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES	5	ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE	500	5 U.S.C. § 500	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc05@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t5/s500	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-05/usc05.xml	87969591d51bea17e0cd2ddfeb110e04fd251dc6edc9c7e6af4a2462f57f6e3c	719fdb18e7085aede50e1e97c1c129fa6058e2c5c12b3d77a9b9044b1769e540	979549d74a43e957f24f9592b9e5de0c79ecaafb13f6dea48505b70f94ab1e42	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

5 U.S.C. § 500 - Administrative practice; general provisions

Text

(a) For the purpose of this section—

(1) “agency” has the meaning given it by section 551 of this title; and

(2) “State” means a State, a territory or possession of the United States including a Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.

(b) An individual who is a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a State may represent a person before an agency on filing with the agency a written declaration that he is currently qualified as provided by this subsection and is authorized to represent the particular person in whose behalf he acts.

(c) An individual who is duly qualified to practice as a certified public accountant in a State may represent a person before the Internal Revenue Service of the Treasury Department on filing with that agency a written declaration that he is currently qualified as provided by this subsection and is authorized to represent the particular person in whose behalf he acts.

(d) This section does not—

(1) grant or deny to an individual who is not qualified as provided by subsection (b) or (c) of this section the right to appear for or represent a person before an agency or in an agency proceeding;

(2) authorize or limit the discipline, including disbarment, of individuals who appear in a representative capacity before an agency;

(3) authorize an individual who is a former employee of an agency to represent a person before an agency when the representation is prohibited by statute or regulation; or

(4) prevent an agency from requiring a power of attorney as a condition to the settlement of a controversy involving the payment of money.

(e) Subsections (b)–(d) of this section do not apply to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office with respect to patent matters that continue to be covered by chapter 3 (sections 31–33) of title 35.

(f) When a participant in a matter before an agency is represented by an individual qualified under subsection (b) or (c) of this section, a notice or other written communication required or permitted to be given the participant in the matter shall be given to the representative in addition to any other service specifically required by statute. When a participant is represented by more than one such qualified representative, service on any one of the representatives is sufficient.

(Added Pub. L. 90–83, § 1(1)(A), Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 195; amended Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4732(b)(2)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–583.)

Notes

Historical and Revision Notes Section of title 5Source (U.S. Code)Source (Revised Statutes at Large) 500(a)5 App.: 1014.Nov. 8, 1965, Pub. L. 89–332, § 3, 79 Stat. 1281. 500(b)–(e)5 App.: 1012.Nov. 8, 1965, Pub. L. 89–332, § 1, 79 Stat. 1281. 500(f)5 App.: 1013.Nov. 8, 1965, Pub. L. 89–332, § 2, 79 Stat. 1281. The definition of “State” in subsection (a)(2) is supplied for convenience and is based on the words “State, possession, territory, Commonwealth, or District of Columbia” in subsections (a) and (b) of 5 App. U.S.C. 1012. In subsection (d), the words “This section does not” are substituted for “nothing herein shall be construed”. In subsection (d)(3), the word “employee” is substituted for “officer or employee” to conform to the definition of “employee” in 5 U.S.C. 2105.

Editorial Notes

Amendments1999—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 106–113 substituted “United States Patent and Trademark Office” for “Patent Office”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1999 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 106–113 effective 4 months after Nov. 29, 1999, see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4731] of Pub. L. 106–113, set out as a note under section 1 of Title 35, Patents.