Ethics for Federal Employees
Ethics are standards by which one should act based on values. The ethical conduct of federal employees provides a strong framework for use in maintaining the highest possible ethical standards. Ethics training and review programs have been established to help prevent corruption by alerting federal workers to behavior that could potentially be a problem or appear to be a problem to others. These programs clearly defines guidelines for employees to use in dealing with conflicts of interest, responding to offers of gifts and/or benefits, and handling situations where they think corruption may have occurred.
Federal employees are governed by two major sources of legislation addressing ethics, Title 18 of the United States Code and the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, to which there have been a number of amendments. Some major amendments have modified post-employment restrictions, revised and consolidated the financial disclosure requirements, changed the rules on the acceptance of gifts, amended the criminal ethics provisions. A variety of smaller changes include a modification of the rules concerning the receipt of honoraria for personal appearances, speeches or articles.
The following principles of ethical conduct for government employees are addressed in the Code of Federal Regulation (CFR 2635), and are based on these principles:
- Public service is a public trust, requiring employees to place loyalty
to the Constitution, the laws, and ethical principles above private gain.
- Employees shall not hold financial interests that conflict with the conscientious
performance of duty.
- Employees shall not engage in financial transactions using nonpublic government
information or allow the improper use of such information to further any
private interest.
- An employee shall not, except pursuant to such reasonable exceptions as
are provided by regulation, solicit or accept any gift or other item of monetary
value from any person or entity seeking official action from, doing business
with, or conducting activities regulated by the employee's agency, or whose
interests may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance
of the employee's duties.
- Employees shall put forth honest effort in the performance of their duties.
- Employees shall make no unauthorized commitments or promises of any kind
purporting to bind the Government.
- Employees shall not use public office for private gain.
- 8. Employees shall act impartially and not give preferential treatment
to any private organization or individual.
- Employees shall protect and conserve Federal property and shall not use
it for other than authorized activities.
- Employees shall not engage in outside employment or activities, including
seeking or negotiating for employment which conflict with official Government
duties and responsibilities.
- Employees shall disclose waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption to appropriate
authorities.
- Employees shall satisfy in good faith their obligations as citizens, including
all just financial obligations, especially those--such as Federal, State,
or local taxes--that are imposed by law.
- Employees shall adhere to all laws and regulations that provide equal opportunity
for all Americans regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin,
age, or handicap.
- Employees shall endeavor to avoid any actions creating the appearance that they are violating the law or the ethical standards promulgated pursuant to this order.
Standards for Ethical Conduct
The code has the following sections:
- Subpart A: defines general provisions including definitions, employees
who are covered, etc.
- Subpart B: covers gifts from outside sources, including general standards,
definitions, exceptions, and information about properly disposing of prohibited
gifts.
- Subpart C: covers gifts between employees.
- Subpart D: reviews conflicting financial interests, and clearly defines
what financial interests are prohibited.
- Subpart E discusses impartiality in performing official duties, including
personal and business relationships, and payments from former employers.
- Subpart F: covers seeking other employment, and outlines waivers and authorizations,
and disqualifications based on an arrangement concerning prospective employment.
- Subpart G: discusses misuse of your position, including using public office
for private gain, using non-public information, using government property,
and using official time.
- Subpart H: discusses outside activities, including conflicting outside employment/activities, gaining approval, service as an expert witness, and guidelines on teaching, speaking, and writing, fundraising activities, and just financial obligations.
