History quiz

What is the Hatch Act?

The Hatch Act is a federal law that limits the political activities of federal employees. The law was passed in 1939 in response to concerns that federal employees were using their positions to influence elections and engage in other political activities that could undermine public trust in the government.

The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from:

* Running for partisan political office

* Engaging in political activity on duty

* Using government resources for political purposes

* Pressuring other employees to engage in political activity

There are some exceptions to the Hatch Act, including for employees who work for the President or Vice President, employees of intelligence agencies, and employees of the U.S. Postal Service and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Violations of the Hatch Act can result in disciplinary action, including termination of employment.

The Hatch Act has been challenged in court on a number of occasions, but it has been upheld as constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.