Are religious organizations permitted to participate in referendums, constitutional amendments and similar ballot initiatives?
Yes. Referendums, constitutional amendments and similar ballot initiatives are classified as lobbying activities for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code. As such, they are subject to the insubstantial lobbying limitation, not the political activity prohibition. Does the political activity prohibition apply to the political activities of clergy and other religious leaders? The Internal Revenue Code prohibition against political activity applies to religious organizations as tax-exempt organizations, not to the political activities of clergy or other religious leaders undertaken in their individual capacities and not as representatives of their religious organizations. Thus, clergy or other religious leaders, in their individual capacities and outside the context of any religious organization function or publication, may endorse or oppose candidates and otherwise participate in election campaigns. In doing so, however, religious leaders should clearly indicate that their actions are pe
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