Advocacy and Political Engagement

About Political Engagement

As our life’s work is rooted in serving Californians and California communities, it’s natural that many UC employees are deeply invested and involved in political activities. Although such engagement as private citizens is permissible and common, it’s crucial to remember that many laws and policies prohibit the university from engaging in political activities in support or opposition to candidates, parties and ballot measures.

These restrictions apply to the activities of the university overall, as well as to the activities of individual faculty and staff members — either while acting in their capacity as representatives of the university or while using university resources. It’s essential for all UC employees to comply with these rules. There are potential criminal and civil penalties for misuse of public resources, and, in the case of the rules that apply to tax-exempt organizations, the university’s tax-exempt status could even be jeopardized. 

What constitutes prohibited political activity in a given situation, either for state ballot measures or for federal Section 501(c)(3) purposes, must be based on all of the facts and circumstances. Even activities that are intended to be nonpartisan or that fall well short of an expressed endorsement of, or contribution to, a particular candidate, political party or ballot initiative campaign may violate the prohibitions on political activity. Therefore, before any member of the University community engages in an activity that implicates or appears to implicate these prohibitions, please contact the UC Davis Government and Community Relations team. 

To help UC employees better understand and follow these rules, the Office of the General Counsel offers a number of resources:

About Advocacy

Assemblyman Robert Rivas and Veterinary Students

While partaking in political activities in support/opposition of candidates, parties and ballot measures, as noted above, is generally not allowed, legislative advocacy can be permissible.  

Sharing information and insight with legislators about the myriad issues that affect people every day is okay and its important. This is why the Office of Government and Community Relations works with campus staff, students, faculty, alumni, parents and community leaders and organizations to advocate on behalf of issues affecting UC and UC Davis.

lmage of students in classroom setting

UCAN Advocacy Network

To take a stand and become an advocate, visit the UC Advocacy Network website.

 

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Advocacy Political Engagement

Questions commonly asked by our campus community.  

  • Is there university policy about staff communications with state and federal officials?
  • Policy 310-50, Communications with Government Officials: Policy on Relations of University Staff Members with State and Federal Officials
  • Is participation in the advocacy efforts of UC Advocacy Network (UCAN) allowable?
  • Yes, easily advocate on issues that are important to the University of California, without the guesswork by joining the UC Advocacy Network.  
  • Why make the distinction about measures that are qualified for the ballot?
  • UC guidelines are specific to political activities in support or opposition to candidates, parties and ballot measures. These guidelines are intended to assist in drawing the difficult distinction between legitimate informational activities and unlawful campaign activities. If its on the ballot, then, UC cannot use resources of any kind to influence a vote for or against. 
  • May a university employee endorse a ballot measure in their private capacity and identify themselves by university title?

  • Yes. University officials may allow use of their names and titles for identification purposes in the same manner as others who sign an endorsement. An express disclaimer of university endorsement is required where the context might reasonably cause confusion as to whether the endorsement is made in an official or unofficial capacity. 

  • ​​​Is advocacy generally allowable?
  • Yes.  The UC Davis Office of Government Relations (GCR) represents the campus on official governmental relations matters and only UC can represent UC matters. Consult with GCR staff prior to visits to Sacramento or Washington in connection with UC business. However, as an individual, anyone can engage in advocacy, educating policymakers about the needs of an organization or community. As a UC employee using UC resources, anything that is on the ballot is off limits. Keep in mind also avoiding appearances of conflict. To advocate on issues that are important to UC without the guesswork check out UC Advocacy Network. Separately, when university staff or faculty is asked to testify or discuss research as an expert, they are not being engaged to advocate or lobby, their role is to provide information in a technical or factual manner.
  • What are examples of advocacy?

  • Telling a government official (elected or appointed) how a policy affects constituents.
    Meeting with a government official to explain how a particular problem/issue is affecting a particular group or organization, the environment, etc.
    Using social media to get the word out about a cause/issue.

  • What are examples of lobbying?
  • Asking government official (elected or appointed) to vote for or against, or to amend or introduce, particular legislation.
    Emailing members of your group asking them to contact their member of Congress in support of or opposition to legislation or pending regulations.
    Generating an online petition asking members of your organization (direct lobbying) or members of the public (grassroots lobbying) to contact their legislator(s) to support or oppose particular legislation.
  • Should I report my UC work-related federal lobbying activities?
  • The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, also known as the Federal Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (HLOGA), was amended by Congress in 2007 and requires UC Davis to report a good faith estimate of all expenditures on federal lobbying activities and lobbying contacts conducted on behalf of the University.  Please visit the HLOGA page to report. 

People

brandon minto image

Brandon Minto

  • Federal Government Relations Director