(ref: Politics and the Pulpit 2008 from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life)
In relatively plain English, Politics and the Pulpit 2008 – A Guide to the Internal Revenue Code Restrictions on the Political Activity of Religious Organizations identifies the following commonly asked questions about what role religious organizations can play during an election. Download the report for answers to these questions. Also check out 16 Things Non-Profits Can and Can’t Do in an Election Year.
- Where do the restrictions on religious organizations’ participation in the political process come from?
- Has this prohibition on political campaign intervention always been part of the Internal Revenue Code?
- Are religious organizations singled out by the political campaign intervention prohibition in the Internal Revenue Code?
- Doesn’t the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protect the right of religious organizations to engage in political activity?
- What political activities are prohibited under the Internal Revenue Code?
- Must religious organizations restrict their discussion of issues during election campaign periods?
- When would an issue discussion violate the political campaign intervention prohibition?
- Are religious organizations permitted to engage in lobbying activities?
- Are religious organizations permitted to participate in referenda, constitutional amendments and similar ballot initiatives?
- What are the consequences if a religious organization engages in excessive lobbying?
- Does the political campaign intervention prohibition apply to the political activities of clergy and other religious leaders?
- When are the political activities of clergy or other religious leaders attributed to their religious organizations?
- Who is considered a candidate?
- What rules apply with respect to candidates for non-elective office?
- May candidates appear in pulpits during worship services?
- What if the candidate appears in a noncandidate capacity?
- What if the candidate is a member of the clergy?
- May religious organizations become involved in voter education?
- May religious organizations publish or distribute voter guides?
- Why must a broad range of issues be covered in voter education materials?
- May religious organizations publish or distribute legislators’ voting records?
- May religious organizations distribute voter education materials prepared by a candidate, political party or PAC?
- May religious organizations sponsor candidate forums?
- May religious organizations conduct voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives?
- May the facilities of religious organizations be used for civic or political events?
- Do special rules apply to websites belonging to religious organizations?
- Do links to candidate-related materials constitute political campaign intervention?
- May religious organizations sell paid political advertising in their publications?
- May a religious organization sell or rent its mailing list to a candidate, political party or PAC?
- What are the penalties if a religious organization violates the political campaign intervention prohibition?
- Does the IRS target churches for enforcement of the political campaign intervention prohibition?
Download the Pew Forum report to see the answers to these questions.
Then, read an excerpt from Loud and Clear in an Election Year and consider buying your own copy of this book to learn more about finding and exercising your lawful voice as a socially responsible non-profit in an election year.
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