Title 32—National Defense--Volume 1
PART 1605—SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM ORGANIZATION
§ 1605.1   Director of Selective Service.
The Director of Selective Service shall be responsible directly to the President. The Director of Selective Service is hereby authorized and directed:
(a) To prescribe such rules and regulations as he shall deem necessary for the administration of the Selective Service System, the conduct of its officers and employees, the distribution and performance of its business, and the custody, use, and preservation of its records, papers, and property.
(b) To issue such public notices, orders, and instructions, as shall be necessary for carrying out the functions of the Selective Service System.
(c) To obligate and authorize expenditures from funds appropriated for carrying out the functions of the Selective Service System.
(d) To appoint and to fix, in accordance with provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5 U.S.C., relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, the compensation of such officers, agents, and employees as shall be necessary for carrying out the functions of the Selective Service System.
(e) To procure such space as he may deem necessary for carrying out the functions of the Selective Service System by lease pursuant to existing statutes.
(f) To obtain by purchase, loan, or gift such equipment, supplies, printing, binding, and blankbook work for the Selective Service System as he may deem necessary to carry out the functions of the Selective Service System.
(g) To perform such other duties as shall be required of him under the Selective Service Law or which may be delegated to him by the President.
(h) To delegate any of his authority to such officers, agents, or persons as he may designate and to provide for the subdelegation of any such authority.
§ 1605.6   National Appeal Board.
(a) There is hereby created and established within the Selective Service System a civilian agency of appeal which shall be known as the National Appeal Board. The President shall appoint not less than three members to the National Appeal Board, and he shall designate one member as chairman.
(b) The President shall appoint members of the National Appeal Board from among citizens of the United States who:
(1) Are not active or retired members of the Armed Forces or any reserve component thereof;
(2) Have not served as a member of the National Appeal Board for a period of more than five years;
(3) Are at least 18 years of age;
(4) Are able to devote sufficient time to duties of the Board; and
(5) Are willing to fairly and uniformly apply Selective Service Law.
(c)(1) A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, shall decide any question.
(2) The National Appeal Board may sit en banc, or upon the request of the Director or as determined by the chairman of the National Appeal Board, in panels, each panel to consist of at least three members. The Chairman of the National Appeal Board shall designate the members of each panel and he shall designate one member of each panel as chairman. A majority of the members of a panel shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, shall decide any question. Each panel of the National Appeal Board shall have full authority to act on all cases assigned to it.
(3) The National Appeal Board or a panel thereof shall hold meetings in Washington, DC, and upon request of the Director or as determined by the Chairman of the National Appeal Board, at any other place.
(d) The National Appeal Board or panel thereof shall classify each registrant whose classification has been appealed to the President under part 1653 of this chapter.
(e) No member of the National Appeal Board shall act on the case of a registrant who is the member's first cousin or closer relation either by blood, marriage, or adoption, or who is the member's employer, employee or fellow employee or stands in the relationship of superior or subordinate of the member in connection with any employment, or is a partner or close business associate of the member, or is a fellow member or employee of the National Appeal Board. A member of the National Appeal Board must disqualify himself in any matter in which we would be restricted for any reason in making an impartial decision.
(f) Each member of the National Appeal Board while on the business of the National Appeal Board away from his home or regular place of business shall receive actual travel expenses and per diem in lieu of subsistence in accordance with rates established by Federal Travel Regulations.
(g) The Director shall pay the expenses of the members of the National Appeal Board in accord with applicable Federal Travel Regulations and shall furnish that Board and its panels necessary personnel, suitable office space, necessary facilities and services.
§ 1605.7   Region Manager.
(a) Subject to the direction and control of the Director of Selective Service, the Region Manager of Selective Service for each region shall be in immediate charge of the Region Headquarters and shall be responsible for carrying out the region functions of the Selective Service System in the various States assigned to the region.
(b) The Region Manager will perform such duties as are prescribed by the Director of Selective Service.
§ 1605.8   Staff of Region Headquarters for Selective Service.
(a) Subject to applicable law, and within the limits of available funds, the staff of each region for Selective Service shall consist of as many officers, either military or civilian, as shall be authorized by the Director of Selective Service.
(b) In accordance with limitations imposed by the Director of Selective Service, the Region Manager is authorized to appoint such civilian personnel as he considers are required in the operation of the Region Headquarters.
§ 1605.11   Governor.
The Governor is authorized to recommend a person to be appointed by the President as State Director of Selective Service for his State, who shall represent the Governor in all Selective Service matters.
§ 1605.12   State Director of Selective Service.
(a) The State Director of Selective Service for each State, subject to the direction and control of the Director of Selective Service, shall be in immediate charge of the State Headquarters for Selective Service in his State. The State Headquarters for Selective Service shall be an office of record for Selective Service operations only, and no records other than Selective Service records shall be maintained in such office.
(b) The State Director of Selective Service will perform such duties as are prescribed by the Director of Selective Service.
§ 1605.13   Staff of State Headquarters for Selective Service.
(a) Subject to applicable law and within the limits of available funds, the staff of each State Headquarters for Selective Service shall consist of as many officers, either military or civilian, as shall be authorized by the Director of Selective Service.
(b) In accordance with limitations imposed by the Director of Selective Service, the State Director of Selective Service is authorized to appoint such civilian personnel as he considers are required in the operation of the State Headquarters for Selective Service.
§ 1605.14   State Director of Selective Service for New York City.
The Governor of the State of New York is authorized to recommend a person to be appointed by the President as State Director of Selective Service for New York City, who shall represent the Governor in all Selective Service matters within the City of New York. Subject to the direction and control of the Director of Selective Service, the State Director of Selective Service for New York City shall be in immediate charge of the State Headquarters for Selective Service for New York City and shall perform such duties as are prescribed by the Director of Selective Service. The State Director of Selective Service for the State of New York shall have no jurisdiction in Selective Service matters within the City of New York. The State headquarters of Selective Service for New York City shall be an office of record for Selective Service operations only, and no records other than Selective Service records shall be maintained in such office.
§ 1605.21   Area.
The Director of Selective Service shall establish one or more district appeal boards in each of the Federal Judicial Districts in the several states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The Director of Selective Service may establish panels of appeal boards.
§ 1605.22   Composition and appointment of district appeal boards.
The Director of Selective Service will prescribe the number of members for the district appeal boards. The President shall appoint members of district appeal boards from among citizens of the United States who are residents of the area for which the respective boards have jurisdiction. The Director of Selective Service shall furnish necessary personnel, suitable office space, facilities and services to support each district appeal board.
§ 1605.23   Designation.
The Director of Selective Service shall assign each district appeal board within a Federal Judicial District a specific identification by which it shall be known. If a district appeal board consists of more than one panel, each panel shall have a specific identifying number. Such numbers shall be assigned in numerical sequence beginning with numeral 1.
§ 1605.24   Jurisdiction.
(a) The district appeal board shall have jurisdiction to review and to affirm or change any local board decision appealed to it when:
(1) An appeal is submitted by a registrant from a local board in its area; or
(2) An appeal is submitted to it from a local board not in the appeal board area by a registrant whose principal place of employment or residence is located within the jurisdiction of the appeal board; or
(3) An appeal is submitted or transferred to it by the Director of Selective Service to assure the fair and equitable administration of the Law.
(b) The district appeal board shall have jurisdiction to review and to affirm or change any Alternative Service Office Manager decision appealed to it by an Alternative Service Worker pursuant to part 1656 of this chapter.
§ 1605.25   Disqualification.
(a) No member of a district appeal board shall act on the case of a registrant who is the member's first cousin or closer relation, either by blood, marriage, or adoption, or who is the member's employer, employee, or fellow employee, or stands in the relationship of superior or subordinate of the member in connection with any employment, or is a partner or close business associate of the member, or is a fellow member or employee of the board.
(b) A member of a district appeal board must disqualify himself in any matter in which he would be restricted for any reason in making an impartial decision.
(c) Whenever a quorum of the district appeal board or a panel thereof cannot act on the case of a registrant that it has been assigned, and there is no other panel of the district appeal board to which the case may be transferred, the district appeal board shall transmit such case to the director of Selective Service for transfer to another district appeal board.
§ 1605.26   Organization and meetings.
Each district appeal board, or panel thereof, shall elect a chairman and a vice-chairman at least every two years. A majority of the members of the board when present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall decide any question. Every member, unless disqualified, shall vote on every question or classification. In case of a tie vote on a question or classification, the board shall postpone action until the next meeting. If the question or classification remains unresolved at the next meeting, the file will be transferred for classification in accord with § 1605.25(c). If any member is absent so long as to hamper the work of the board, the chairman, a member of the board or panel concerned, or an area office employee shall report that fact to the Director of Selective Service and such action as appropriate shall be taken. If, through death, resignation, or other causes, the membership of the board falls below the prescribed number of members, the board or panel shall continue to function, provided a quorum of the prescribed membership is present at each official meeting.
§ 1605.27   Minutes of meetings.
A Selective Service compensated employee will keep the minutes of each appeal board meeting. In the absence of a compensated employee the minutes will be kept by an appeal board member.
§ 1605.28   Signing official papers.
Official documents issued and minutes of meetings maintained by a district appeal board may be signed by any member of the board, or by any compensated employee of the Selective Service System authorized to perform administrative duties for the board, except when otherwise prescribed by the Director of Selective Service.
§ 1605.51   Area.
(a) The Director of Selective Service shall divide each State into local board areas and establish local boards. There shall be at least one local board in each county except where the Director of Selective Service establishes an intercounty board. When more than one local board is established within the same geographical jurisdiction, registrants residing in that area will be assigned among the boards as prescribed by the Director of Selective Service. The Director of Selective Service may establish panels of local boards.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 1605.52   Composition of local boards.
The Director of Selective Service shall prescribe the number of members of local boards.
§ 1605.53   Designation.
The Director of Selective Service shall assign each local board within a State a specific identifying number by which it shall be known. Such identifying numbers shall be assigned in numerical sequence beginning with the numeral 1.
§ 1605.54   Jurisdiction.
The local board shall have full authority to perform all acts within its jurisdiction authorized by law, to include the acting on any claim presented to it when:
(a) The claim is submitted by a registrant who is assigned to it; or
(b) The claim is transferred to it from another board in the manner provided in these regulations; or
(c) The claim is submitted or tranferred to it by the Director of Selective Service to assure the fair and equitable administration of the Law.
§ 1605.55   Disqualification.
(a) No member of a local board shall act on the case of a registrant who is the member's first cousin or closer relation, either by blood, marriage, or adoption, or who is the member's employer, employee, or fellow employee, or stands in the relationship of superior or subordinate of the member in connection with any employment, or is a partner or close business associate of the member, or a fellow member or employee of the area office.
(b) A member of the local board must disqualify himself in any matter in which he would be restricted, for any reason, in making an impartial decision.
(c) Whenever a quorum of a local board cannot act on the case of a registrant, the area office supervisor shall cause such case to be transferred to another board within the area office. In those instances where only one board exists in an area office, the case should be transmitted to the nearest area office for transfer to a board under its jurisdiction.
§ 1605.56   Organization and meetings.
Each local board shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman at least every two years. A majority of the membership of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall decide any question or classification. Every member present, unless disqualified, shall vote on every question or classification. In case of a tie vote on any question or classification, the board shall postpone action on the question or classification until it can be decided by a majority vote at the next meeting. If the question or classification remains unresolved at the next meeting, the file will be transferred for classification in accord with § 1605.55(c). If any member is absent so long as to hamper the work of the board, the chairman, a member of the board, or a Selective Service compensated employee shall report that fact to the Director of Selective Service and appropriate action shall be taken. If through death, resignation, or other cause, the membership of a board falls below the prescribed number, it shall continue to function provided a quorum of the prescribed membership is present at each official meeting.
§ 1605.58   Minutes of meetings.
A compensated employee of the appropriate area office will keep the minutes of each meeting of a local board. In the absence of a compensated employee the minutes will be kept by a board member.
§ 1605.59   Signing official papers.
Official papers issued by a local board may be signed by any member of the board or compensated employee of the area office, or any compensated employee of the Selective Service System whose official duties require him to perform administrative duties at the area office except when otherwise prescribed by the Director of Selective Service.
§ 1605.60   Area.
(a) The Director of Selective Service shall prescribe the number of area offices to be established and shall define the boundaries thereof.
(b) The area office shall be an office of record and responsible for all administrative and operational support of the one or more local boards within its jurisdiction.
§ 1605.61   Staff of area offices for selective service.
Subject to applicable law and within the limits of available funds, the staff of each area office shall consist of as many compensated employees, either military or civilian, as shall be authorized by the Director of Selective Service.
§ 1605.81   Interpreters.
(a) The local board, district appeal board and the National Selective Service Appeal Board are authorized to use interpreters when necessary.
(b) The following oath shall be administered by a member of the board or a compensated employee of the System to an interpreter each time he or she interprets:
Do you swear (or affirm) that you will truly interpret in the matter now in hearing?
(c) Any interpreter who fails to respond in the affirmative shall not be permitted to function in this capacity.