US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

5 U.S.C. § 7321

Political participation

It is the policy of the Congress that employees should be encouraged to exercise fully, freely, and without fear of penalty or reprisal, and to the extent not expressly prohibited by law, their right to participate or to refrain from participating in the political processes of the Nation.

Pub. L. 103–94, § 2(a)107 Stat. 1001(Added , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Pub. L. 89–55480 Stat. 525Pub. L. 103–94A prior section 7321, , , , related to political contributions and services of employees in Executive agencies or competitive service, prior to the general revision of this subchapter by .

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date; Savings Provision

Pub. L. 103–94, § 12107 Stat. 1011

“(a)
section 610 of Title 18section 410 of Title 39section 7325 of title 5 The amendments made by this Act [enacting sections 5520a and 7321 to 7326 of this title and , Crimes and Criminal Procedure, amending sections 1216, 2302, 3302 and 3303 of this title, sections 602 and 603 of Title 18, , Postal Service, and sections 1973d and 9904 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and omitting former sections 7321 to 7328 of this title] shall take effect 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [], except that the authority to prescribe regulations granted under , United States Code (as added by section 2 of this Act), shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
“(b)
Any repeal or amendment made by this Act of any provision of law shall not release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under that provision, and that provision shall be treated as remaining in force for the purpose of sustaining any proper proceeding or action for the enforcement of that penalty, forfeiture, or liability.
“(c)
No provision of this Act shall affect any proceedings with respect to which the charges were filed on or before the effective date of the amendments made by this Act. Orders shall be issued in such proceedings and appeals shall be taken therefrom as if this Act had not been enacted.”
, , , provided that:

Executive Documents

Delegation of Authority

Memorandum of President of the United States, , 59 F.R. 54515, provided:

Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense

section 301 of title 3Pursuant to authority vested in me as the Chief Executive Officer of the United States, and consistent with the provisions of the Hatch Act Reform Amendment regulations, 5 CFR 734.104, and , United States Code, I delegate to you the authority to limit the political activities of political appointees of the Department of Defense, including Presidential appointees, Presidential appointees with Senate confirmation, noncareer SES appointees, and Schedule C appointees.

You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

William J. Clinton.

Memorandum of President of the United States, , 59 F.R. 54121, provided:

Memorandum for the Secretary of State

section 301 of title 3Pursuant to authority vested in me as the Chief Executive Officer of the United States, and consistent with the provisions of the Hatch Act Reform Amendment regulations, 5 CFR 734.104, and , United States Code, I delegate to you the authority to limit the political activities of political appointees of the Department of State, including Presidential appointees, Presidential appointees with Senate confirmation, noncareer SES appointees, and Schedule C appointees.

You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

William J. Clinton.

Memorandum of President of the United States, , 59 F.R. 50809, provided:

Memorandum for the Attorney General

section 301 of title 3Pursuant to authority vested in me as the Chief Executive Officer of the United States, and consistent with the provisions of the Hatch Act Reform Amendment regulations, 5 CFR 734.104, and , United States Code, I delegate to you the authority to limit the political activities of political appointees of the Department of Justice, including Presidential appointees, Presidential appointees with Senate confirmation, noncareer SES appointees, and Schedule C appointees.

You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

William J. Clinton.