USG employees are encouraged to exercise their First Amendment rights, fulfill their civic obligations, and engage in the normal political processes of society. This includes the right to express their personal opinions on matters of public concern; to register to vote and otherwise participate in elections; and to participate in and make financial contributions to political organizations and campaigns. Nothing in this policy is intended to infringe or restrict free expression rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution or the Georgia Constitution. Nevertheless, it is inappropriate for USG employees to engage in such political activities while on duty to perform services for the USG, to utilize USG or other public resources to do so, or to hold elective political office at the state or federal level while employed by the USG. Likewise, USG employees must not hold themselves out as speaking or acting on behalf of the USG or its institutions when participating in political activities and must take reasonable measures to avoid any appearance that such participation is in an official capacity as an employee of the USG or its institutions.

In light of the foregoing, the following rules govern all USG employees when engaging in political activities and associated political expression:

1. A USG employee may not manage or take an active part in a political campaign that interferes with the performance of duties or services for which he or she receives compensation from the USG.
2. A USG employee may not hold elective political office at the state or federal level.
3. A USG employee seeking elective political office at the state or federal level must first request a leave of absence without pay beginning prior to qualification as a candidate in a primary or general election and ending after the general or final election. If elected to state or federal office, a USG employee must resign prior to assuming office.
4. A USG employee may seek and hold elective office at other than the state or federal level, or seek and hold an appointive office, when doing so does not conflict or interfere with the employee’s duties and responsibilities to the USG or the employee’s institution, as applicable.
5. A USG employee engaging in political activities and/or associated political expression must do so only in their personal capacity and shall not speak on behalf of the USG or its institutions or hold themselves out as representing the USG or its institutions, unless specifically authorized by the USG or the employee’s institution, as applicable.
6. When a USG employee engages in political activities and/or associated political expression in their personal capacity, such employee must take reasonable steps to avoid any appearance that such political activities and/or associated political expression represents the views of, or is endorsed by, the USG or its institutions. For example, USG employees are not prohibited from noting in a biographical description their employment status, title, or affiliation with the USG or their institution, or their background and credentials, but if an employee does so, the employee must make clear that the employee is not speaking in the employee’s capacity as an employee of the USG or the employee’s institution.
7. USG employees are prohibited from using state property, resources, or materials (including work email) or work time to communicate personal political views or in conjunction with any political campaigning. In addition, employees are prohibited from using any USG registered trademarks when expressing personal opinions on political issues, unless they are expressly authorized to do so.
8. USG employees shall not make any promise of preferential treatment or any threat of detrimental treatment or actually confer such treatment for the purpose of inducing the support of or opposition to any political campaign or candidate for political office, political party, or political organization.
9. Neither USG, any USG institution, nor any employee thereof shall ask or require any employee, student, or applicant for employment or admission to affirmatively ascribe to or opine about political beliefs, affiliations, ideals, or principles as a condition for employment, promotion, admission, enrollment, or any benefit or privilege related thereto. This prohibition shall not, however, prevent any employee, student, or applicant for employment or admission from voluntarily engaging in such expression.

Any employee who violates these prohibitions on certain political activities shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination.