United States Committee on Governmental Affairs and the House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform publish the “United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions” (also knows as the Plum Book). This book is published after each presidential election every four years.

This publication contains data on over 7,000 Federal civil service leadership and support positions in the legislative and executive branches of the Federal Government that may be subject to noncompetitive appointment (e.g., positions such as agency heads and their immediate subordinates, policy executives and advisors, and aides who report to these officials). the duties of many such positions may involve advocacy of Administration policies and programs and the incumbents usually have a close and confidential working relationship with the agency head or other key officials.

According to Wikipedia, the Plum Book is used to identify positions appointed by the president within the Federal Government. The list originated in 1952. When President Eisenhower took office, the Republican Party requested a list of government positions that President Eisenhower could fill. The next edition of the Plum Book appeared in 1960 and has since been published every four years. Older editions of the Plum Book are held in the Federal Depository.