ABSTRACT
The Hatch Act of 1939 attempted to curtail political corruption and intimidation among federal workers by restricting some free speech and freedom of association activities of all but the highest levels of the executive branch. The Hatch Act arose from allegations of electioneering and worker coercion among New Deal-related federal agencies, but it was arguably an extension of civil service reforms begun in the late nineteenth century. In 1940, Congress amended the Hatch Act in order to prohibit similar activities by state and local workers employed by agencies and programs funded by the federal government. In 1993, Congress significantly amended the Hatch Act to redefine the scope of permissible political activities of state and federal workers. A small group of federal employees are subject to greater restrictions and continue to be prohibited from engaging in partisan political management and partisan political campaigns. Various civil service organizations have also posted new guidelines for their members.
