Prescribed number; vacancies

§ 5441. Prescribed number; vacancies In this chapter “prescribed number” or “number . . . prescribed”, as applied to a grade or combination of grades, means the number of officers of a described corps, designation, or other category that shall 300 be maintained in the grade or combination of grades concerned. Except as otherwise specifically provided, the actual number of officers in a grade or combination of grades may not exceed the prescribed number. Vacancies occur whenever, and to the extent that, the actual number falls below the prescribed number.