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Prohibited Political Activity

Off-Duty Political Activity
RUNNING FOR/SERVING IN PUBLIC OFFICE PAS Career SES All Others
  • In a Non-partisan Election
 Yes Yes Yes
  • In a Partisan Election (Generally)
 No No No
  • Where Permitted by OPM as an Independent
 Yes Yes Yes
  • Retain Office Won Prior to Federal Appointment
 Yes Yes Yes
FUNDRAISING PAS Career SES All Others
  • Attend a Fundraiser
 Yes Yes Yes
  • Contribute to a Candidate or Party
 Yes Yes Yes
  • Give a Political Speech (No Solicitation Involved)
 Yes No Yes
  • Host (including invite others to) a Fundraiser
 No No No
  • Solicit, Accept, Receive Contributions (Generally)
 No No No
In a Non-Partisan Campaign Yes Yes Yes
For Labor Organization PAC Yes No Yes
As an Independent Candidate (locality rules) Yes No Yes
  • Use/allow Use of Official Title in Invitations
 No No No
POLITICAL PARTY/CLUB ENVOLVEMENT PAS Career SES All Others
  • Attending as Member of General Public
 Yes Yes Yes
  • Joining/Voting on Issues
 Yes Yes Yes
  • Holding Office
 Yes No Yes
  • Influencing Members on Partisan Issues,
 Yes No Yes
  • Precinct/Ward Committee Member
 Yes No Yes
  • Act as Accredited Checker, Watcher, Challenger, etc.
 Yes No Yes
  • Serve as Officer of a PAC
 Yes No Yes
  • Be Employed or Paid by a Political Committee
 No No Yes
PARTICIPATING IN POLITICAL EVENTS PAS Career SES All Others
  • As a Member of the General Public --
      
Attending Rallies & Meetings Yes Yes Yes
Vote on Questions Presented Yes Yes Yes
  • As a Party Member --
      
Organize, Manage, Act in Rallies & Meetings Yes No Yes
Play Prominent Role in Primaries, Caucuses,      
Conventions, etc. Yes No Yes
Serve as Delegate, Alternate, or Proxy at Party Conventions Yes No Yes
Address Rallies & Meetings on Partisan matters Yes No Yes
Organize/Participate in Political Parade Yes No Yes
  • Engage in Activities Using a Government Vehicle
 No No No
CAMPAIGN DUTIES PAS Career SES All Others
  • Organize, Manage, Serve as Officer of Campaign
 Yes No Yes
  • Make Partisan Campaign Speeches (No Solicitation)
 Yes No Yes
  • Endorse a Candidate/Oppose a Candidate Publicly or Through a Paid Advertisement
 Yes No Yes
  • Be Employed or Paid by a Campaign
 No No Yes
VOLUNTEERING PAS Career SES All Others
  • Distribute Literature, Badges, Buttons, etc. 
 Yes No Yes
  • Voter Turnout:
      
Register and Vote, Yourself  Yes Yes Yes
Register Voter: In a Non-partisan Effort Yes Yes Yes
For a Party Yes No Yes
Drive Voters to Polls: Non-partisan Effort Yes Yes Yes
Partisan Effort Yes No Yes
  • Nominating Petitions:
      
Circulating a Nominating Petition Yes No Yes
Sign a Nominating Petition Yes Yes Yes
  • Service at the Polls:
      
Serve as Non-partisan Election Officer Yes Yes Yes
Act for Party at the Polls Yes No Yes
  • Recruit Others To Work on a Campaign
 Yes No Yes
POLITICAL EXPRESSION PAS Career SES All Others
  • Making Partisan Campaign Speeches (No Solicitation)
 Yes No Yes
  • Displaying Partisan Buttons or Signs
 Yes Yes Yes
  • Expressing One's Personal Opinion Publicly on Issues & Candidates
 Yes Yes Yes


On-Duty Political Activity
RUNNING FOR/SERVING IN PUBLIC OFFICE PAS Career SES All Others
  • Taking an Active Part in/Managing: 
      
Campaigns Yes No No
Political Activities  Yes No No
  • Endorse Candidates Publicly in Official Capacity
 Yes No No
  • Travel to Campaign/Political Events (At Own Expense)
 Yes No No
  • Hold Occasional Campaign Meetings in Office
 Yes No No
  • Attend Political Events on Official Time
 Yes No No
  • Write Political Speeches on Official Time
 Yes No No
  • Engage in Political Activities Using Government Vehicle
 No No No
  • Be Employed By a Campaign
 No No No

The information in this chart was provided by the USDA Office of Ethics. Matters un-related to NRCS employees have been deleted.

Last updated August 10, 2000
Send comments to Caryl J. Butcher


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