A moment about Politics

MARADMIN 511/08
R 121141Z SEP 08
RAAUZYUW RULYFOO0133 2542037-UUUU--RUEBARD.
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R 102037Z SEP 08 ZYB
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UNCLAS
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/JA//
SUBJ/GUIDANCE ON POLITICAL ACTIVITY//
POC/MR.MICHAEL D. GRAHAM/-/HQMC JAR/LOC: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 PER THE REFERENCES.
2. UNDER REF A, MOST FEDERAL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES MAY ACTIVELY
PARTICIPATE IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES ON THEIR OWN TIME 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, MAKING A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO A PARTISAN PARTY OR
CANDIDATE, PUBLICLY ENDORSING A CANDIDATE IN ONE'S PRIVATE CAPACITY,
TAKING ACTIVE PART IN MANAGING A PARTISAN CAMPAIGN OR OTHER PARTISAN
POLITICAL ACTIVITIES OFF GOVERNMENT PREMISES, AND DISPLAYING ONE
PARTISAN BUMPER STICKER ON AN EMPLOYEE'S PRIVATE VEHICLE.
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) AT THE FEDERAL WORKPLACE,
DISTRIBUTING CAMPAIGN MATERIALS ON GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, AND
DISTRIBUTING POLITICAL MATERIALS OVER GOVERNMENT EMAIL SYSTEMS
(E.G., SENDING PARTISAN EMAILS TO CO-WORKERS URGING SUPPORT OF A
POLITICAL CANDIDATE).
3. MARINES AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES ON ACTIVE DUTY ARE
SUBJECT TO MORE RESTRICTIVE RULES CONCERNING POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.
PERMISSIBLE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE REGISTERING TO VOTE AND VOTING AS YOU
CHOOSE, ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO VOTE, MAKING A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
TO A PARTISAN PARTY OR CANDIDATE, PARTICIPATING FULLY IN THE FEDERAL
VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND DISPLAYING ONE PARTISAN BUMPER
STICKER ON A MARINE'S 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).
4. QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE SCOPE OF PERMISSIBLE POLITICAL
ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO YOUR SUPPORTING STAFF JUDGE
ADVOCATE OR COUNSEL BEFORE ENGAGING IN SUCH ACTIVITY.
5. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN JAMES WALKER, STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATE TO
THE COMMANDANT.//
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