In most states, there are laws on the books that extend certain workers' compensation protections to virtually every class of employee, ranging from part-time laborers to executive officers. However, there are certain types of employees that are excluded from workers' compensation protection at the state level. For example, federal employees who are injured or become ill on the job must take their claims through a separate federal workers' compensation system. Under the terms of a law known as the Federal Employers' Compensation Act (FECA), workers who are injured or made ill in the course of carrying out duties associated with a federal job can seek compensation and medical coverage benefits by filing a claim in state or federal court. There are 16 district offices throughout the United States that handle the administration and adjudication of federal employees' compensation claims. As in the state system, federal employees whose cases are denied or rejected at any stage of the process usually have the right to file an appeal.