General Prohibition Against Using Official Resources for Campaign or Political Purposes

• Laws and Rules on Proper Use of Official Resources
  • Good and Services Paid With the Members' Representational Allowance or House Committee Funds
  • House Buildings, House Rooms, and House Offices
  • Coverage of House Floor and Committee Proceedings
  • Internal Office Files
  • Official Mailing Lists
  • Letters, News Releases, Other Printed Materials, and E-mails
  • The 90-Day Ban on Unsolicited Mass Communications
  • Member and Committee Websites
  • Travel
  • Redistricting

• Limited  Campaign-Related Activities That May Take Place in a Congressional Office
  • Coordination of the Member's Schedule
  • The Press Secretary
  • Campaign/Congressional Office Referrals
  • Providing Published Materials to the Campaign
  • Responding to Questionnaires on Legislative Issues
  • Nonpartisan Voter Registration Materials

Campaign Work by House Employees Outside the Congressional Office and on Their Own Time

• What Is an Employee's "Own Time"?
• Need to Comply With Laws and Rules Applicable to House Employees While Doing Campaign Work
  • The Prohibition Against Making a Contribution to One's Employing Member
  • Requirement That Each Employee Perform Duties Commensurate With Compensation
  • The Gift Rule
  • The Prohibition Against Representing Others Before Federal Agencies
  • For "Senior Staff," the Annual Limitation on Outside Earned Income and Outside Employment Restriction

• Candidacy of a House Employee for Elective Office

Campaign Contributions and Contributors

• Soliciting Campaign and Political Contributions
  • No Knowing Solicitation of Federal Employees
  • No Solicitation in House Offices, Rooms, or Buildings
  • No Use of Other Official Resources
  • No Use of a Facsimile of Official Stationary
  • No Link With an Official Action or Special Access
  • No Direct Contributions to a House Office

• Receipt and Acceptance of Contributions
• Receipt of a Contribution in a House Office
  • A Contribution Linked to an Official Action May Not Be Accepted

• Prohibition Against Linking Official Actions to Partisan or Political Considerations

Proper Use of Campaign Funds and Resources

• Use for Bona Fide Campaign or Political Purposes 
  • Charitable or Community Service Projects
  • Payment of Certain Legal Expenses
  • Payment of Certain Travel Expenses
  • Payment of Certain Meal Expenses
  • Receptions and Related Activities for Visiting Constituents
  • Letters, Mailings, and Other Communications That Are Not Frankable in Content
  • Letters, Mailings, and Events for House Leadership Elections
  • Special Events for the Member's House or Campaign Staff
  • Member Moving Expenses To or From Washington, DC
  • Gift and Donations
  • Other Permissible Uses of Campaign Funds

• No Personal Use of Campaign Funds or Resources, and the Related Verification Requirement
  • House Rules
  • Application of the House Rules
  • Borrowing Campaign Funds Is Impermissible
  • Expenditures for Travel
  • Expenditures for Meals
  • Purchase or Other Acquisition From the Member or a Member of His or Her Family
  • The FEC Personal Use Regulations

• Use of Campaign Funds or Resources for Official House Purposes
          
  • Restrictions on Official Use of Campaign Funds
  • Expenses of a Motor Vehicle That Is Used for Official House Travel
  • Expenses of a Cell Phone or BlackBerry That Is Used for Official House Business
  • Expenses of Official or Officially-Related Travel
  • Expenses in Connection With Official House Events
  • Gifts for Foreign Dignitaries
  • Cautionary Points

• Congressional Expenses That May Not Be Paid With Campaign Funds

• Activities That May Be Either "Official" or "Political" at the Member's Option

Other Applicable Laws, Rules, and Standards of Conduct

• Laws and Rules on Campaign Letterhead
• Gift Rule Provisions Applicable to Campaign Activity
• Member Involvement With an Independent Redistricting Fund
• Other Provisions of the Federal Criminal Code Applicable to Campaign Activity