R 201715Z JUL 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 414/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/JA//
SUBJ/GUIDANCE ON POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND ACTIVITY//
REF/A IS DOD DIRECTIVE 1344.10/19FEB2008//
REF/B IS 5 U.S.C. SS 7321-7326 AND 5 C.F.R. PARTS 733-734/-//
NARR/REF A IS DOD DIRECTIVE 1344.10, POLITICAL ACTIVITIES BY MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES, REF B IS THE HATCH ACT.//
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.  AS A PRIMARY EXAMPLE, MARINES AND SAILORS SHALL NOT WEAR A UNIFORM WHEN THEY ATTEND A PARTISAN OR NONPARTISAN POLITICAL FUNDRAISING ACTIVITY, MEETING, RALLY, DEBATE OR CONVENTION AS A SPECTATOR.
2.  MARINES AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES ARE SUBJECT TO GENERALLY MORE RESTRICTIVE RULES THAN FEDERAL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES. REF A IS A PUNITIVE LAWFUL GENERAL REGULATION APPLICABLE TO MARINES, SAILORS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES ON ACTIVE DUTY. PERMISSIBLE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE REGISTERING TO VOTE AND VOTING, ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO VOTE, MAKING A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO A POLITICAL PARTY OR CANDIDATE, PARTICIPATING FULLY IN THE FEDERAL VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND DISPLAYING A PARTISAN BUMPER STICKER ON A 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).
3.  UNDER REF B, MOST FEDERAL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES MAY TAKE AN  ACTIVE PART IN PARTISAN POLITICAL MANAGEMENT AND PARTISAN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, WHILE OFF DUTY 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 POLITICAL PARTY OR CANDIDATE, ATTENDING POLITICAL FUNDRAISING FUNCTIONS AND DISPLAYING A PARTISAN BUMPER STICKER ON AN EMPLOYEE'S PRIVATE VEHICLE IN A 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) IN A FEDERAL WORKPLACE, DISTRIBUTING CAMPAIGN MATERIALS ON GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, DISTRIBUTING POLITICAL MATERIALS OVER GOVERNMENT EMAIL SYSTEMS (E.G., SENDING PARTISAN EMAILS TO CO-WORKERS URGING SUPPORT OF A POLITICAL CANDIDATE), AND DISTRIBUTING POLITICAL MATERIALS TO SUBORDINATES THROUGH ANY EMAIL SYSTEM.
4.  THE U.S. OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL (OSC) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING REPORTS OR COMPLAINTS CONCERNING HATCH ACT VIOLATIONS COMMITTED BY COVERED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES. THE MOST SEVERE PENALTY FOR A VIOLATION IS REMOVAL. THE MINIMUM PENALTY IS SUSPENSION WITHOUT PAY FOR 30 DAYS.
5.  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.
6.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MAJGEN VAUGHN ARY, STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATE TO THE COMMANDANT.//