Quiz: How Well Do You Know the Hatch Act?
Test your knowledge of the law that limits political activity in the federal workplace.
Everyone seems to have a lot to say about the 2016 presidential election, and federal employees are likely no exception. But unlike most members of the general public, civil servants are subject to restrictions in the Hatch Act and have to be very careful about how, when and where they engage in political speech and other political activity. The wrong status update on Facebook could cost a private sector employee a few "friends," but it might cost a federal employee his or her job.
The concept of the Hatch Act might seem simple enough: don't engage in partisan political activity while you're on the clock. Still, how that plays out -- especially given the rise of social media and mobile work arrangements-- can get complicated.
