This CLE course provides guidance to Attorneys who work for Federal agencies, and addresses the thorny issues related to partisan politics and Federal employment. The Hatch Act (codified in 5 U.S.C. 7321 - 7326) was passed and signed into law in 1939 as the "Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities," so these issues have clearly been around for over 80 years, and yet they still prove challenging for Federal supervisors and attorneys to this day. In an era off particularly divisive environments, it is helpful to both attorneys and supervisors to understand what the Act prohibits, and as importantly what it does not.

The class first addresses the two categories of "covered" Federal employees, and the differences between those two classes. It will also address exceptions to those prohibitions for Presidentially-appointed, Senate Confirmed Federal employees. The class defines what exactly is (and is not) included in the term "partisan political activity." From there, it will address what political activities each class of "covered" Federal employees may engage in, and as importantly those activities which are prohibited by the statute. The class includes helpful test questions for attendees to consider as to whether an activity is barred by the Act.