The background investigations required of top Presidential appointees often take months.

They would also bar former top appointees from lobbying for foreign governments for life.

Two top appointees to housing agencies that have been sharply criticized by advocacy groups also had their terms extended.

Mr. Bush has refused to hold himself or any of his top political appointees accountable for those catastrophic errors.

Board members said they were not surprised to see several top appointees leaving the administration at this time.

The most restrictive rules cover Cabinet-level officials and other top Presidential appointees.

Indeed, a number of Mr. Cortines's top appointees are expected to stay on, at least through the early transition.

Because he owed few favors to the state's established politicians, many of Brown's top appointees were businesspeople.

He said the City Council should be given the power to approve top mayoral appointees.

His top appointees will be paid far less than the people who hold the same positions now, Mr. Levy said.