Basic
obligation of public service Public service is a public trust. Each employee
has a responsibility to the United States Government and
its citizens to place loyalty to the Constitution, laws
and ethical principles above private gain. To ensure that
every citizen can have complete confidence in the
integrity of the Federal Government, each employee shall
respect and adhere to the principles of ethical conduct
stated below and in implementing standards contained in 5
CFR § 2635 and in supplemental agency regulations.
General principles. The following
general principles apply to every employee and may form
the basis for the standards contained in this part. Where
a situation is not covered by the standards set forth in
this part, employees shall apply the principles set forth
in this section in determining whether their conduct is
proper.
(1) Public service is a public trust,
requiring employees to place loyalty to the Constitution,
the laws and ethical principles above private gain.
(2) Employees shall not hold financial
interests that conflict with the conscientious
performance of duty.
(3) Employees shall not engage in
financial transactions using nonpublic Government
information or allow the improper use of such information
to further any private interest.
(4) An employee shall not, except as
permitted by subpart B of this part, 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.
(5) Employees shall put forth honest
effort in the performance of their duties.
(6) Employees shall not knowingly make
unauthorized commitments or promises of any kind
purporting to bind the Government.
(7) 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.
(9) Employees shall protect and
conserve Federal property and shall not use it for other
than authorized activities.
(10) Employees shall not engage in
outside employment or activities, including seeking or
negotiating for employment, that conflict with official
Government duties and responsibilities.
(11) Employees shall disclose waste,
fraud, abuse, and corruption to appropriate authorities.
(12) 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.
(13) 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.
(14) Employees shall endeavor to avoid
any actions creating the appearance that they are
violating the law or the ethical standards set forth in
this part. Whether particular circumstances create an
appearance that the law or these standards have been
violated shall be determined from the perspective of a
reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts.
(c) Related statutes. In addition to
the standards of ethical conduct set forth in this part,
there are conflict of interest statutes that prohibit
certain conduct. Criminal conflict of interest statutes
of general applicability to all employees, 18 U.S.C. 201,
203, 205, 208, and 209, are summarized in the appropriate
subparts of this part and must be taken into
consideration in determining whether conduct is proper.
Citations to other generally applicable statutes relating
to employee conduct are set forth in subpart I and
employees are further cautioned that there may be
additional statutory and regulatory restrictions
applicable to them generally or as employees of their
specific agencies. Because an employee is considered to
be on notice of the requirements of any statute, an
employee should not rely upon any description or synopsis
of a statutory restriction, but should refer to the
statute itself and obtain the advice of an agency ethics
official as needed.
5 CFR § 2635.101
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