[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 5, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 5CFR734.205]

[Page 47]
 
                    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 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]