Topzle Updated: Wikipedia source
The Hatch Act of 1939, An Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities, is a United States federal law that prohibits civil service employees in the executive branch of the federal government, except the president and vice president, from engaging in some forms of political activity. It became law on August 2, 1939. The law was named for Senator Carl Hatch of New Mexico. It was most recently amended in 2012.
| Activity | Regular federal employees | Restricted federal employees |
| Active in partisan political management | Permitted | Prohibited |
| Assist in voter registration drives | Permitted | Non-partisan only |
| Attend political rallies, meetings, and fundraisers | Permitted | |
| Be candidates in non-partisan elections | Permitted | |
| Be candidates in partisan elections | Prohibited | |
| Campaign for or against candidates | Permitted | Prohibited |
| Campaign for or against referendum questions, constitutional amendments, or municipal ordinances | Permitted | |
| Circulate nominating petitions | Permitted | Prohibited |
| Contribute money to partisan groups and candidates in partisan elections | Permitted | |
| Distribute campaign literature to include via email or social media | Permitted | Prohibited |
| Engage in political activity while on duty | Prohibited | |
| Express opinions about partisan groups and candidates in partisan elections while not at work or using official authority | Permitted | |
| Express opinions about political issues | Permitted | |
| Invite subordinate employees to political events or otherwise suggest that they engage in political activity | Prohibited | |
| Join partisan groups | Permitted | |
| Make campaign speeches for candidates in partisan elections | Permitted | Prohibited |
| Participate in campaigns | Permitted | Only if candidates do not represent a political party |
| Register and vote as they choose | Permitted | |
| Sign nominating petitions | Permitted | |
| Solicit or discourage the political activity of any person with business before the agency | Prohibited | |
| Solicit, accept, or receive political contributions (including hosting or inviting others to political fundraisers) | Prohibited | |
| Use official authority to interfere with an election or while engaged in political activity | Prohibited | |
| Notes:.mw- }.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- Federal employees are allowed to be independent candidates in partisan elections for offices of certain localities in the Washington metropolitan area and certain other localities where most voters are federal employees. Allowed if both persons are members of the same federal labor or employee organization, the person solicited is not a subordinate employee, the solicitation is for a contribution to the organization's political action committee, and the solicitation does not occur while on duty or in the workplace | ||