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U.S. Office of Special Counsel

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Hatch Act Advisory Opinions

Federal Advisory Opinions

Coverage

SGEs who work more than 130 days in a 365-day period

FAA Aviation Medical Examiners

Personal Services Contractors

American Red Cross AO - Redacted

Miscellaneous (e.g., Local Political Party Membership, Spouse Hosting Fundraiser in Home, etc.)

Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac Employees

National Disaster Medical System, Disaster Mortuary Operation Response Team Employees

Temporary Work Assignments to an Elected Official’s Office

Americorps Vista Volunteers

FEMA Disaster Assistance Employees

Temporary, Part-time, and Emergency Employees

SBA Disaster Reserve Specialists

VA “Without Compensation” Appointments

Amtrak Employees

Temporary Seasonal Employees Under a 1039 Appointment

Candidacy/Holding Office

Seeking and Accepting a Judicial Appointment

Serving on a Redistricting Commission

Cross-filing in Elections

When Candidacy Begins

Nonpartisan Election Candidacy and Fundraising

Running or Serving as Chair of a Partisan Organization

Establishing or Holding Office Within a PAC

Running for Political Party Office

Being Appointed to a Public Office

Maintaining an Independent Candidacy When Running in a Designated Locality

Write-in Candidacy

Taking Preliminary Steps to Begin Candidacy

"Testing the Waters" to Begin a Candidacy

Candidacy in a Partisan Election

VA “Without Compensation” Appointments

Assisting a Spouse’s Campaign

Candidacy in Nominally Nonpartisan Elections

Nonpartisan Activity

Use of Administrative Leave to Participate in Nonpartisan Poll Activities

Black Lives Matter and the Hatch Act

Nonpartisan Election Candidacy and Fundraising

Contacting Members of Congress Concerning Legislation or Workplace Issues

Circulating Petitions for Ballot Initiatives

Nonpartisan Voter Registration Drives in the Workplace

Wearing Anti-war or Nonpartisan Buttons in the Workplace

Maintaining an Independent Candidacy When Running in a Designated Locality

Serving as an Officer for an Organization that has a PAC

On Duty/In Workplace

The Hatch Act and Activities after Election Day

Updating Agency Approach to Enforcement of the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act and Federal Employees' Discussions About the Conflict Between Israel and Hamas

Hatch Act Advisory Opinion Regarding the Use of Presidential Campaign Slogans

The Hatch Act implications of President Biden announcing his reelection campaign

Hatch Act Advice on Workplace Discussions

Hatch Act Advice Now that Former President Trump is a Presidential Candidate

Agency Hosting Lecture on Politically-Charged Topics

Hatch Act Advisory for Teleworking Employees

HA Advisory Opinion-Displaying Photographs of the President During a Reelection Campaign

Advocating Resistance and Impeachment at Work

Candidate Visits to Federal Agencies

Social Media Guidance

Further Restricted Employee Supporting Spouse Who is a Candidate

Mixed Travel by Presidential Appointees with Senate Confirmation (PAS)

Political Briefings in the Workplace

Canvassing Residents and Other Political Activities in Government Housing

Miscellaneous (e.g., Bumper Stickers, Candidate Photographs, Agency News Clips, etc.)

Contacting Members of Congress Concerning Legislation or Workplace Issues

Circulating Petitions for Ballot Initiatives

Posting Candidates' Positions on Issues in the Workplace

Nonpartisan Voter Registration Drives in the Workplace

Union Conducting Voter Registration Drives after It Has Endorsed a Candidate

Voter Registration Drives in the Workplace

Wearing Anti-war or Nonpartisan Buttons in the Workplace

PAS Employees and Reimbursement of de minimis Political Expenses

Displaying Political Signs in Federal Housing

Making PAC Contributions through Salary Allotments

Updated June 2020

Current Guidance on President Trump's Reelection Status

Example of Email that Constitutes Political Activity

Assisting a Spouse’s Campaign

Social Media and Email FAQs

Social Media & Email

Advocating Resistance and Impeachment at Work

Social Media Guidance

Further Restricted Employees' Use of Social Media

Miscellaneous (e.g., Bumper Stickers, Candidate Photographs, Agency News Clips, etc.)

Updated June 2020

Current Guidance on President Trump's Reelection Status

Example of Email that Constitutes Political Activity

Social Media and Email FAQs

Further Restricted Employees

Social Media Guidance

Further Restricted Employee Supporting Spouse Who is a Candidate

Further Restricted Employees' Use of Social Media

Further Restricted Employee Housing Campaign Volunteers

Further Restricted Employee's Membership in a Partisan Political Group

Updated June 2020

Social Media and Email FAQs

Political Party Activities

Hatch Act Advisory Opinion Regarding Service on a Presidential Transition Team

Use of Administrative Leave to Participate in Nonpartisan Poll Activities

Political Briefings in the Workplace

Miscellaneous (e.g., Local Political Party Membership, Spouse Hosting Fundraiser in Home, etc.)

Canvassing Residents and Other Political Activities in Government Housing

Running or Serving as Chair of a Partisan Organization

Establishing or Holding Office Within a PAC

Soliciting Funds to Pay for Party Membership Fees

Running for Political Party Office

Further Restricted Employee's Membership in a Partisan Political Group

Making PAC Contributions through Salary Allotments

Campaign Activities

Use of Administrative Leave to Participate in Nonpartisan Poll Activities

Further Restricted Employee Supporting Spouse Who is a Candidate

Serving as Campaign Treasurer

Mixed Travel by Presidential Appointees with Senate Confirmation (PAS)

Further Restricted Employee Housing Campaign Volunteers

Soliciting Volunteers for a Voter Protection Team

Miscellaneous (e.g., Local Political Party Membership, Spouse Hosting Fundraiser in Home, etc.)

Canvassing Residents and Other Political Activities in Government Housing

Union Conducting Voter Registration Drives after It Has Endorsed a Candidate

Voter Registration Drives in the Workplace

Maintaining an Independent Candidacy When Running in a Designated Locality

Retirement of Campaign Debt

Displaying Political Signs in Federal Housing

Assisting a Spouse’s Campaign

Fundraising

Social Media Guidance

Further Restricted Employee Supporting Spouse Who is a Candidate

Serving as Campaign Treasurer

Miscellaneous (e.g., Local Political Party Membership, Spouse Hosting Fundraiser in Home, etc.)

Miscellaneous (e.g., Bumper Stickers, Candidate Photographs, Agency News Clips, etc.)

Nonpartisan Election Candidacy and Fundraising

Running or Serving as Chair of a Partisan Organization

Establishing or Holding Office Within a PAC

Soliciting Funds to Pay for Party Membership Fees

Running for Political Party Office

Retirement of Campaign Debt

Serving as an Officer for an Organization that has a PAC

Updated June 2020

Social Media and Email FAQs

Senate-Confirmed Appointees

Mixed Travel by Presidential Appointees with Senate Confirmation (PAS)

Political Briefings in the Workplace

PAS Employees and Reimbursement of de minimis Political Expenses

Temporary, Part-time, and Irregular Employees

SGEs who work more than 130 days in a 365-day period

Uncompensated Special Government Employees (SGEs)

Miscellaneous (e.g., Local Political Party Membership, Spouse Hosting Fundraiser in Home, etc.)

National Disaster Medical System, Disaster Mortuary Operation Response Team Employees

FEMA Disaster Assistance Employees

Temporary, Part-time, and Emergency Employees

SBA Disaster Reserve Specialists

Temporary Seasonal Employees Under a 1039 Appointment

Use of Official Authority

Hatch Act Advisory Opinion Regarding Official Agency Communications

Hatch Act Advisory Opinion Regarding the Use of Presidential Campaign Slogans

Agency Hosting Lecture on Politically-Charged Topics

Candidate Visits to Federal Agencies

Social Media Guidance

Serving as Campaign Treasurer

Soliciting Volunteers for a Voter Protection Team

Miscellaneous (e.g., Bumper Stickers, Candidate Photographs, Agency News Clips, etc.)

Establishing or Holding Office Within a PAC

Updated June 2020

Social Media and Email FAQs

Partisan Political Groups

What is a partisan political group

Black Lives Matter and the Hatch Act

MoveOn.org and the Hatch Act

State/Local Advisory Opinions

Accordion Control

State & Local - Coverage

Hatch Act's Application to Employees of Private, Nonprofit Organizations

Definition of Salary under the Hatch Act Modernization Act of 2012

Education Exemption

Hatch Act Modernization Act Guidance for State and Local Employees

State & Local - Candidacy/Holding Office

Elected Sheriffs Campaigning in Uniform

Hatch Act's Application to Employees of Private, Nonprofit Organizations

Use of Official Title by State and Local Employees Who Are Now Permitted to Be Candidates in Partisan Elections

Definition of Salary under the Hatch Act Modernization Act of 2012

California’s Voter-Nominated Primary Elections are Presumptively Partisan for Purposes of the Hatch Act

Elected Sheriffs Use of Title and Uniform for Campaign Purposes

Partisan vs. Nonpartisan Election

Education Exemption

Hatch Act Modernization Act Guidance for State and Local Employees

State & Local - Nonpartisan Activity

Hatch Act's Application to Employees of Private, Nonprofit Organizations

Partisan vs. Nonpartisan Election

State & Local - Campaign Activities

Elected Sheriffs Campaigning in Uniform

Hatch Act Advisory Opinion: Signing or Asking Others to Sign a Letter of Support for Sheriff’s Reelection

Hatch Act's Application to Employees of Private, Nonprofit Organizations

Use of Official Title by State and Local Employees Who Are Now Permitted to Be Candidates in Partisan Elections

Elected Sheriffs Use of Title and Uniform for Campaign Purposes

State & Local - Fundraising

Elected Sheriffs Use of Title and Uniform for Campaign Purposes

State & Local - Use of Official Authority

Elected Sheriffs Campaigning in Uniform

Hatch Act Advisory Opinion: Signing or Asking Others to Sign a Letter of Support for Sheriff’s Reelection

Hatch Act's Application to Employees of Private, Nonprofit Organizations

Use of Official Title by State and Local Employees Who Are Now Permitted to Be Candidates in Partisan Elections

Elected Sheriffs Use of Title and Uniform for Campaign Purposes