R 191829Z JUL 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 407/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/JA//
SUBJ/GUIDANCE ON POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND ACTIVITY//
POC/MR. MICHAEL GRAHAM/HQMC JAR/UNIT: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 PROHIBITING OFFICIAL INVOLVEMENT IN PARTISAN MARINES AND SAILORS SHALL NOT PARTISAN OR NONPARTISAN POLITICAL 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 SAILORS AND OTHER PERMISSIBLE ACTIVITIES ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO VOTE, MAKING A POLITICAL PARTY OR CANDIDATE, VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND DISPLAYING A PARTISAN ON A POV.  PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES INCLUDE POLITICAL FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES, USING OFFICIAL AUTHORITY TO INFLUENCE OR INTERFERE WITH AN ELECTION, MARCHING OR RIDING IN PARTISAN PARADES, SPEAKING 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 VEHICLE, AND DISPLAYING A PARTISAN POLITICAL SIGN, POSTER, BANNER, OR SIMILAR DEVICE VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC AT ONES RESIDENCE ON 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 INTERFERE WITH OR AFFECT THE SUCH ACTIVITIES IN ANY INCLUDE REGISTERING TO VOTE AND VOTING AS YOU CHOOSE, ASSISTING IN VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES BY NONPARTISAN LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS), MAKING A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO A POLITICAL PARTY OR CANDIDATE, ATTENDING POLITICAL FUNDRAISING FUNCTIONS AND DISPLAYING A PRIVATE VEHICLE IN A INCLUDE SOLICITING OR WEARING CAMPAIGN BADGES OR BUTTONS ON DISPLAYING CAMPAIGN MATERIALS (PICTURES, 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 DISTRIBUTING POLITICAL MATERIALS TO SYSTEM.
4.  THE U.S. OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL (OSC) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING REPORTS OR COMPLAINTS CONCERNING HATCH ACT VIOLATIONS COMMITTED BY A VIOLATION 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.//