As
everyone knows, this is an election year and the political season is
well underway with candidates for President, Congress, and state
legislatures holding rallies, making speeches, and raising money. It’s
almost impossible to ignore.
For
federal employees, it also presents some dangers. We are bound by rules
that are different than for the general public. The restrictions on our
political activities are found in the Hatch Act,
Office of Personnel Management
regulations, and NRC Management Directive 7.10. They apply to full-time and part-time federal employees, even while on leave.
And
the rules come with some stiff consequences. The mandatory penalties
for violating the Hatch Act start with a 30-day suspension without pay
and can result in termination.
The
Hatch Act restrictions only apply to “partisan” elections – elections
where candidates run on the labels of national political parties. The
vast majority of elections are partisan, including the 2012 election for
President, Congress, and state legislatures.
If
an election is “nonpartisan,” federal employees are free to participate
fully, including running for office or soliciting contributions.
Nonpartisan elections are usually for local offices, such as school
boards, where none of the candidates are running under political party
auspices.
Under
the Hatch Act, no NRC employee may receive or solicit contributions or
run for office in a “partisan” election (except in designated
communities, mainly in the Washington, D.C. area). In addition, no
employee can engage in political activity while on duty, in a government
office, while wearing a government uniform or insignia, or while using a
government vehicle. That prohibition includes using a government
computer or e-mail to advocate for or against a partisan political
party, a candidate for partisan political office, or a partisan
political group, or to make or solicit contributions for a partisan
political campaign.
NRC employees cannot even wear a political button or insignia while on duty.
However,
NRC and other federal employees are allowed to assist in voter
registration drives, contribute money to political organizations and be
active in political clubs or parties. And we can put a political bumper
sticker on our car even if we park it in a federal building or parking
lot.
Members
of the career Senior Executive Service (SES) have even more restrictive
Hatch Act limitations—they are prohibited from taking any active role
in a partisan election.
The
intention of the Hatch Act is to keep politics out of the federal
government workplace. That keeps all federal employees – including those
of us at the NRC – focused on our missions and on our work on behalf of
the American public.
John Szabo
Special Counsel
Office of the General Counsel
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