What restriction did the Hatch Act of 1939 impose on civil service employees?

The Hatch Act of 1939 primarily aimed to maintain the integrity and impartiality of federal civil service by limiting the political activities of civil servants. The correct answer highlights that civil service employees are prohibited from actively participating in political campaign management. This restriction is intended to prevent any undue influence or bias that civil servants might exert in their professional roles, ensuring that the federal workforce remains neutral and does not become an instrument of political power.

The focus of the Hatch Act is on maintaining the nonpartisan nature of the civil service, where government employees can still engage in certain personal political activities but cannot involve themselves in the organization or management of political campaigns. This protective measure promotes fairness in government operations and safeguards against politicization of public service roles.