[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 5, Volume 2]

[Revised as of January 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 5CFR734.205]



[Page 42-43]

 

                    TITLE 5--ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL

 

          CHAPTER I--OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)

 

PART 734_POLITICAL ACTIVITIES OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES--Table of Contents

 

                     Subpart B_Permitted Activities

 

Sec. 734.205  Participation in political campaigns.



    Subject to the prohibitions in Sec. 734.306, an employee may:

    (a) Display pictures, signs, stickers, badges, or buttons associated 

with political parties, candidates for partisan political office, or 

partisan political groups, as long as these items are displayed in 

accordance with the provisions of Sec. 734.306 of subpart C of this 

part;

    (b) Initiate or circulate a nominating petition for a candidate for 

partisan political office;

    (c) Canvass for votes in support of or in opposition to a partisan 

political candidate or a candidate for political party office;

    (d) Endorse or oppose a partisan political candidate or a candidate 

for political party office in a political advertisement, broadcast, 

campaign literature, or similar material;

    (e) Address a convention, caucus, rally, or similar gathering of a 

political party or political group in support of or in opposition to a 

partisan political candidate or a candidate for political party office; 

and

    (f) Take an active part in managing the political campaign of a 

partisan political candidate or a candidate for political party office.



    Example 1: An employee of the Environmental Protection Agency may 

broadcast endorsements for a partisan political candidate via a public 

address system attached to his or her private automobile.

    Example 2: An employee of the Department of Interior may canvass 

voters by telephone on behalf of a political party or partisan political 

candidate.

    Example 3: An employee of the Department of Agriculture may stand 

outside of polling places on election day and hand out brochures on 

behalf of a partisan political candidate or political party.

    Example 4: An employee may appear in a television or radio broadcast 

which endorses



[[Page 43]]



a partisan political candidate and is sponsored by the candidate's 

campaign committee, a political party, or a partisan political group.

    Example 5: An independent contractor is not covered by this part and 

may display a political button while performing the duties for which he 

or she is contracted.

    Example 6: An employee of the Department of Commerce who is on 

official travel may take annual leave in the morning to give an address 

at a breakfast for a candidate for partisan political office.

    Example 7: An employee may manage the political campaign of a 

candidate for public office including supervising paid and unpaid 

campaign workers.

    Example 8: While not on duty, a Federal employee may distribute 

campaign leaflets by hand to homes or parked cars even though the 

leaflet may contain information concerning where to send contributions 

among other factual material about a partisan political candidate. 

However, should a member of the public stop the employee and request 

further information about contributions, the employee should refer that 

request to another campaign worker who is not a Federal employee.

    Example 9: An employee may place in his or her front yard a sign or 

banner supporting a partisan political candidate.



[59 FR 48769, Sept. 23, 1994, as amended at 61 FR 35100, July 5, 1996]