7-3-1254. Nonpartisan nature of government. - Montana Statutes

     7-3-1254. Nonpartisan nature of government. (1) A person holding an appointive office or position in the municipal government may not directly or indirectly solicit or receive or be in any manner concerned in soliciting or receiving any assessment, subscription, or contribution for any political party or purpose. A person may not orally or by letter solicit or be in any manner concerned in soliciting any assessment, subscription, or contribution for any political party or purpose from any person holding an appointive office or position in the municipal government. A person may not use or promise to use the person's influence or official authority to secure any appointment or prospective appointment to any position in the service of the municipality as a reward or return for personal or partisan political service. A person may not take part in preparing any political assessment, subscription, or contribution with the intent that it should be sent or presented to or collected from any person in the service of the municipality. A person may not knowingly send or present, directly or indirectly, in person or otherwise, any political assessment, subscription, or contribution to or request its payment by any person in the service of the municipality.
     (2) A person in the service of the municipality may not discharge, suspend, lay off, reduce in grade, or in any manner change the official rank or compensation of any person in service or threaten to do so for withholding or neglecting to make any contribution of money or service or any valuable thing for any political service. A person holding an appointive office or place in the municipal government may not act as an officer in a political organization or serve as a member of a committee of any political organization or circulate or seek signatures for any petition provided for by primary or election laws.
     (3) A person who, individually or in cooperation with one or more persons, willfully or corruptly violates any of the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction be punished by a fine of not less than $50 or more than $500, by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or both, and if the person is an officer or employee of the municipality, the person shall immediately forfeit the office or employment.

     History: En. Secs. 108, 109, 110, Ch. 121, L. 1923; re-en. Secs. 5520.109, 5520.110, 5520.111, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 11-3549, 11-3550, 11-3551; amd. Sec. 341, Ch. 61, L. 2007.