R 160055Z SEP 08
MARADMIN 534/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/JA//
SUBJ/CORRECTED COPY - GUIDANCE ON POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND ACTIVITY//
REF/A/DESC:THE HATCH ACT, 5 U.S.C. SS 7321-7326
/AND 5 C.F.R. PARTS 733-734/-//
REF/B/DESC:DOD DIRECTIVE 1344.10, POLITICAL ACTIVITIES BY MEMBERS
/ OF THE ARMED FORCES/19FEB2008//
REF/C/DESC:ALMAR 021-08, POLITICAL ACTIVITIES BY MEMBERS
/OF THE MARINE CORPS./-//
POC/MR.MICHAEL D. GRAHAM/-/UNIT:HQMC JAR, WASHINGTON, DC/-
/TEL:DSN 224-2510//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THIS GUIDANCE IS ISSUED TO ENSURE THAT CIVILIAN
EMPLOYEES AND MARINES EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF
CITIZENSHIP WITHOUT VIOLATING STATUTES, REGULATIONS AND POLICIES
PROHIBITING OFFICIAL INVOLVEMENT OR THE APPEARANCE OF OFFICIAL
INVOLVEMENT IN PARTISAN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.
2. THE HATCH ACT ALLOWS MOST FEDERAL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES TO ACTIVELY
PARTICIPATE IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES ON THEIR OWN TIME AND OUTSIDE
THE FEDERAL WORKPLACE. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT RESTRICTIONS ON
FUNDRAISING, RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN PARTISAN ELECTIONS, USING ONE'S
OFFICIAL AUTHORITY OR INFLUENCE TO INTERFERE WITH OR AFFECT THE
RESULT OF AN ELECTION, AND ENGAGING IN SUCH ACTIVITIES IN ANY
FEDERAL WORKPLACE. PERMISSIBLE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE REGISTERING TO
VOTE AND VOTING AS YOU CHOOSE, ASSISTING IN VOTER REGISTRATION
DRIVES BY NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATIONS (E.G., LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS),
MAKING A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO A PARTISAN PARTY OR CANDIDATE,
AND DISPLAYING ONE PARTISAN BUMPER STICKER ON AN EMPLOYEE'S PRIVATE
VEHICLE IN GOVERNMENT PARKING LOT. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES INCLUDE
SOLICITING OR RECEIVING POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AT ANY TIME, WEARING
CAMPAIGN BADGES OR BUTTONS ON GOVERNMENT PREMISES, DISPLAYING
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS (PICTURES, POSTERS, COFFEE MUGS, MOUSE PADS, ETC)
AT FEDERAL WORKPLACE, DISTRIBUTING CAMPAIGN MATERIALS ON GOVERNMENT
PROPERTY, AND DISTRIBUTING POLITICAL MATERIALS OVER GOVERNMENT EMAIL
SYSTEMS (E.G., SENDING PARTISAN EMAILS TO CO-WORKERS URGING SUPPORT
OF A POLITICAL CANDIDATE).
3. MARINES AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES ON ACTIVE DUTY ARE
SUBJECT TO GENERALLY MORE RESTRICTIVE RULES CONCERNING POLITICAL
ACTIVITIES SET FORTH IN DOD DIRECTIVE 1344.10. PERMISSIBLE
ACTIVITIES INCLUDE REGISTERING TO VOTE AND VOTING AS YOU CHOOSE,
ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO VOTE, MAKING A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO A
PARTISAN PARTY OR CANDIDATE, PARTICIPATING FULLY IN THE FEDERAL
VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND DISPLAYING ONE PARTISAN BUMPER
STICKER ON A MARINE'S POV. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES INCLUDE
PARTICIPATING IN PARTISAN POLITICAL FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES, USING
OFFICIAL AUTHORITY TO INFLUENCE OR INTERFERE WITH AN ELECTION,
MARCHING OR RIDING IN PARTISAN PARADES, SPEAKING BEFORE A PARTISAN
POLITICAL GATHERING, PERFORMING CLERICAL OR OTHER DUTIES FOR A
PARTISAN POLITICAL COMMITTEE OR CANDIDATE DURING A CAMPAIGN,
DISPLAYING A LARGE POLITICAL SIGN (AS DISTINGUISHED FROM A BUMPER
STICKER) ON A PRIVATE VEHICLE, AND DISPLAYING A PARTISAN POLITICAL
SIGN, POSTER, BANNER, OR SIMILAR DEVICE VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC AT
ONE'S RESIDENCE ON A MILITARY INSTALLATION (EVEN IF THAT RESIDENCE
IS PART OF A PRIVATIZED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT).
4. CIVILIAN AND UNIFORMED MARINES WHO HAVE QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE
SCOPE OF PERMISSIBLE POLITICAL ACTIVITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONSULT
WITH THEIR SUPPORTING STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATE OR COUNSEL BEFORE
ENGAGING IN SUCH ACTIVITY.
5. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN JAMES WALKER, STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATE TO
THE COMMANDANT.//