Ethics
Government ethics refers to standards and rules intended to ensure public officials act with integrity, avoid improper conflicts, protect public resources, and use their authority for legitimate purposes. Ethics requirements may include financial disclosure, recusal, gifts restrictions, and limits on outside employment.
Government ethics refers to standards and rules intended to ensure public officials act with integrity, avoid improper conflicts, protect public resources, and use their authority for legitimate purposes. Ethics requirements may include financial disclosure, recusal, gifts restrictions, and limits on outside employment.
Example: Federal law generally restricts executive-branch employees from participating personally and substantially in certain matters affecting their own financial interests.
Common misconception: Ethics rules apply only when a crime has occurred. Many ethics rules are preventive and may require disclosure or recusal even when no criminal conduct is alleged.
Sources: https://www.oge.gov/; https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section208&num=0&edition=prelim