; (B) a former political appointee who held any political position during the five-year period before the date of the request described in paragraph (2); or (C) at the discretion of the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, a former political appointee who held any political position before the five-year period described in subparagraph (B). (b) Restriction on appointment (1) In general Notwithstanding any other law, rule, or regulation, during the 2-year period following the date a political appointee leaves or departs from a political position, such appointee may not be appointed to any career position in the civil service. (2) Exception Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a political appointee who has not personally and substantially participated in any particular matter while employed in a political position. (c) Application Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict the appointment of an individual who is— (1) entitled to reinstatement under section 3593(b); or (2) eligible for reinstatement under section 3593(a). (d) Definitions In this section— (1) the term agency has the meaning given the term Executive agency in section 105; (2) the term Associate Director means the Associate Director for Merit Systems Accountability and Compliance at the Office of Personnel Management; (3) the term political appointee means an individual serving in an appointment of any duration to a political position; (4) the term political position means— (A) a position with respect to which appointment is made— (i) by the President; or (ii) by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; (B) a position which has been excepted from the competitive service by reason of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character; (C) a position described under sections 5312 through 5316 (relating to the Executive Schedule)