Academic Affairs Manual (ACD)

Effective: 9/1/1983

Revised: 11/1/2002

ACD 205–01: Political Activity—General

Purpose

To describe appropriate and inappropriate political activity

Sources

5 United States Code § 1502

Arizona Constitution, article IV, part 2, § 5

Arizona Board of Regents Policy Manual - 6–905

Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost of the University

Applicability

Faculty

Academic professionals

Policy

Title 5, United States Code § 1502 and the Arizona Constitution prohibit certain political activities by public employees. However, both these laws exempt from such prohibitions individuals employed by an educational or research institution. Thus, for faculty and academic professionals, there are no restrictions on circulating petitions of a partisan nature, holding public office, working on an election board, serving as a deputy registrar of voters, or working on political campaigns.

Faculty members and academic professionals are encouraged to lend their support to candidates for political office. However, employees must use their own personal time to work on political campaigns. Such activity shall not indicate a connection with ASU, nor imply that the university is endorsing any particular candidate.

Arizona Constitution, article IV, part 2, § 5 prohibits employees of the state of Arizona from serving in the state legislature unless employed as a teacher or instructor in the public school system. This has been interpreted as allowing faculty, but not staff or academic professionals (except for those who are course instructors), to serve in the state legislature.

Faculty and academic professionals responsible for disbursement or allocation of state funds shall determine prior to disbursement or allocation that such funds will not be used for purposes of influencing legislation or supporting partisan political activity.

Cross-References

For related information, see:

1. ACD 204–03, “Use of the University’s Name”

   and

2. ACD 205–02, “Lobbying.”

 

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