Hatch Political Activities Act is a law that limits the political activities of United States government employees. The act was passed by Congress in 1939 and has been amended several times since then. It was named for its sponsor, Senator Carl Hatch of New Mexico.
The Hatch Act prohibits most federal employees from running in elections for government office. It also forbids them to promise employment, payment, or other benefits for any political activities, including the support of a candidate or party in any election. This prohibition applies to caucuses and conventions as well as to primary, general, and special elections. However, the Hatch Act, as amended, does allow federal employees to participate in other political activities on their own time, and to hold office within a political party.
A 1940 amendment to the Hatch Act extended some of the act’s provisions to most state and local employees in federally funded projects. The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974 repealed parts of the Hatch Act that barred state employees from participating in party politics. The Hatch Act Reform Amendments of 1993 changed the act to allow federal employees to participate in political activities while off duty. Such participation was previously prohibited.
