94 



The first sentence of the rule applies to every person in the executive civil service, 

 irrespective of the method of his appointment. The second sentence of the rule 

 applies to all persons holding positions in the competitive classified service, whether 

 the appointment be permanent or temporary in character, and by departmental 

 action has also generally been made applicable to unclassified laborers. 



The following forms of activity have been held to be forbidden by this provision: 



Service on political committees; service as delegates to State, county, or district 

 conventions of a political party, although it was understood that the employees 

 were not "to take or use any political activity in going to these conventions or other- 

 wise violate the civil-service rules;" service as officer of a political club, as chairman 

 of a political meeting, or as secretary of an antisaloon league; continued political 

 activity and leadership; activity at the polls on election day; the publication or 

 editing of a newspaper in the interests of a political party; the publication of political 

 articles bearing on qualifications of different candidates; the distribution of political 

 literature; holding office in a club which takes an active part in political campaigns 

 or management; making speeches before political meetings or clubs; activity in 

 local-option campaigns; circulation of petitions having a political object, of petitions 

 proposing amendments to municipal charter, of petitions favoring candidates for 

 municipal offices, and of local-option petitions; candidacy for or holding of elective 

 office; accepting nomination for political office with the intention of resigning from 

 the competitive service if elected; recommendation by clerks and carriers of a person 

 to be postmaster; service as a commissioner of election in a community where it was 

 notorious that a commissioner of election must be an active politician; service as 

 inspector of election, ballot clerk, ballot inspector, judge of election, or member of 

 election board; or generally any form of activity in political management or political 

 campaigns, though not specifically mentioned above. 



Inasmuch as the issuance of a certificate for reinstatement is discretionary with the 

 Civil Service Commission, no certificate will be issued in any case where the party 

 applying for reinstatement has previously resigned with a view of running for office, 

 or with a view of indulging in a degree of political activity which would be prohib- 

 ited if he had remained in the service, and who afterwards, having failed in his can- 

 didacy or having indulged in the contemplated activity, seeks reinstatement, 



2. POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS OR CONTRIBUTIONS. The Civil Service Act provides 

 that "no person in the public service is for that reason under any obligations to 

 contribute to any political fund, or to render any political service, and * * * he 

 will not be removed or otherwise prejudiced for refusing to do so." Section 118 of 

 the Criminal Code provides that no Federal officer or employee shall, directly or 

 indirectly, solicit or receive, or be in any manner concerned in soliciting or receiving 

 any political assessment, subscription, or contribution from any other Federal officer 

 or employee. Section 120 of the Criminal Code prohibits the discharge, promotion, 

 or degrading of any officer or employee for giving or failing to make any political 

 contribution. Section 121 of the Criminal Code prohibits any Federal officer or 

 employee from making any such political contribution to another Federal officer or 

 employee, and Section 119 prohibits the solicitation or receipt of any political con- 

 tribution in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties by any 

 officer or employee of the United States, or on other Federal premises, by any person 



