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→Accusations of violation: expand
The 1939 law was named after Senator [[Carl Hatch]] of New Mexico, the law was officially known as "An Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities". There was also an earlier law, the [[Hatch Act of 1887]], where Congress created agricultural experiment stations in each state.
The 1939 law was named after Senator [[Carl Hatch]] of New Mexico, the law was officially known as "An Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities". There was also an earlier law, the [[Hatch Act of 1887]], where Congress created agricultural experiment stations in each state.
==Summary==
All Federal employees cannot use their authority to affect the results of an election. They are also forbidden to run for office in a partisan election, to solicit or receive political contributions, and to engage in political activities while on duty or on federal property. They can't wear campaign buttons.
Certain higher-level or law enforcement Federal employees ("Further restricted employees") are subject to additional restrictions (for example members of the Senior Executive Service, Administrative Law Judges, or employees of intelligence or law-enforcement agencies):
* be candidates for public office in partisan elections
* campaign for or against a candidate or slate of candidates in partisan elections
* hold office in political clubs or parties
* serve as a delegate or proxy, or address a political convention, for example, to promote or oppose a candidate.
* make campaign speeches
* collect contributions or sell tickets to political fund raising functions
* distribute campaign material in partisan elections
* organize or manage political rallies or meetings
* circulate nominating petitions
* work to register voters for one party only
* wear political buttons at work
==Accusations of violation==
==Accusations of violation==
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law filed a complaint alleging that [[Kris Kobach]] violated the Hatch Act, accusing him of using his position as a federal employee (as the vice chairman of the Election Integrity Commission) to solicit campaign contributions and to promote his current campaign for governor of Kansas.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article159524044.html|title=Attorney group says Kobach violated federal law by promoting voter commission|date=July 3, 2017|accessdate=July 24, 2017|work=Kansas City Star}}</ref><ref>Eli Watkins, [http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/03/politics/kris-kobach-hatch-act/index.html Kobach faces complaint over Trump's election commission], ''[[CNN]]'', July 3, 2017; retrieved July 21, 2017.</ref>
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law filed a complaint alleging that [[Kris Kobach]] violated the Hatch Act, accusing him of using his position as a federal employee (as the vice chairman of the Election Integrity Commission) to solicit campaign contributions and to promote his current campaign for governor of Kansas.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article159524044.html|title=Attorney group says Kobach violated federal law by promoting voter commission|date=July 3, 2017|accessdate=July 24, 2017|work=Kansas City Star}}</ref><ref>Eli Watkins, [http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/03/politics/kris-kobach-hatch-act/index.html Kobach faces complaint over Trump's election commission], ''[[CNN]]'', July 3, 2017; retrieved July 21, 2017.</ref>
==Trump 2020 Presidential bid==
Shortly after taking office, President Trump filed with the Federal Election Commission to seek re-election in 2020. Most other Presidents waited until closer to the election to become an official candidate. In response, the Office of Special Counsel issued an opinion regarding what conduct would be impermissible under the Hatch Act. For example, OSC advised:
<blockquote>Because the 2020 election is still more than three years away,
at this time not all expressions of support or opposition to President Trump constitute political activity for purposes of the Hatch Act. For example, the Hatch Act does not prohibit federal employees, either on duty or off duty, from wearing or displaying pictures of President Trump or items from his 2016 campaign, or expressing their approval or disapproval of President Trump or his Administration, policies, or actions. However, the Hatch Act does prohibit federal employees, while on duty or in the workplace, from expressly advocating for or against his reelection in 2020.<ref>https://osc.gov/Resources/2017-President-Candidate-Guidance.pdf</ref></blockquote>
==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==