The Plum Book is a listing of over 8,000 civil service leadership and support positions (filled and vacant) in the Legislative and Executive branches of the Federal Government that may be subject to noncompetitive appointments, or in other words by direct appointment.
Every four years, just after the Presidential election, United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions is published. It is commonly known as the Plum Book and is alternately published between the House and Senate.

The Plum Book is a listing of over 9,000 civil service leadership and support positions (filled and vacant) in the Legislative and Executive branches of the Federal Government that may be subject to noncompetitive appointments, or in other words by direct appointment.

These plum positions include agency heads and their immediate subordinates, policy executives and advisors, and aides who report to these officials. Many positions have duties which support Administration policies and programs. The people holding these positions usually have a close and confidential relationship with the agency head or other key officials.

Positions in the Plum Book include the following:

Executive Schedule and salary-equivalent positions paid at the rates established for Levels I through V of the Executive Schedule. Senior Executive Service General positions (i.e., those positions which may be filled by a career, non-career, or limited appointment) Senior Foreign Service positions Schedule C positions excepted from the competitive service by the President, or by the Director, Office of Personnel Management, because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position duties Other confidential or policy-determining positions at the GS-14 and above level excepted from the competitive civil service by law because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position duties

Other related resources:

Sourcebook of United States Executive Agencies, December 2012 is available here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/041-001-00697-4

United States Government Manual 2013 is available here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/069-000-00216-1

Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 -Print Paperback format -is available here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/029-001-03482-2

For comparisons and research, previous year volumes:

Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-09 (Clothbound) is available here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/029-001-03466-1

Occupational Outlook Handbook 2006-07 (Clothbound) can be found here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/029-001-03450-4 –Print Paperback format can be found here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/029-001-03451-2

Career Guide to Industries, 2006-2007 can be found here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/029-001-03458-0

For research and comparison, check out United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions, 2008 (Plum Book) available here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/052-070-07534-1 or the 2012 edition available here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/052-070-07648-8