### **CHAPTER 131—ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT**

#### SUBCHAPTER I—FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL PERSONNEL

Sec.
13101.
Definitions.
13102.
Administration of provisions.
13103.
Persons required to file.
13104.
Contents of reports.
13105.
Filing of reports.
13106.
Failure to file or filing false reports.
13107.
Custody of and public access to reports.
13108.
Review of reports.
13109.
Confidential reports and other additional requirements.
13110.
Authority of Comptroller General.
13111.
Notice of actions taken to comply with ethics agreements.

#### SUBCHAPTER II—OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS

13121.
Establishment; appointment of Director.
13122.
Authority and functions.
13123.
Administrative provisions.
13124.
Rules and regulations.
13125.
Authorization of appropriations.
13126.
Reports to Congress.

#### SUBCHAPTER III—LIMITATIONS ON OUTSIDE EARNED INCOME AND EMPLOYMENT

13141.
Definitions.
13142.
Administration.
13143.
Outside earned income limitation.
13144.
Limitations on outside employment.
13145.
Civil penalties.
13146.
Conditional termination.

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Effect of References to Title 5 on Application of Ethics Provisions

Pub. L. 117–286, §6, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4360, provided that: "A Federal statute providing that title 5 of the United States Code as a whole is inapplicable, or providing that an appointment may be made without regard to the provisions of title 5 governing appointment in the competitive service, shall not affect the application of any provision of chapter 131 of title 5, United States Code."

#### Rule of Construction

Pub. L. 112–105, §10, Apr. 4, 2012, 126 Stat. 298, provided that: "Nothing in this Act [see Tables for classification], the amendments made by this Act, or the interpretive guidance to be issued pursuant to sections 3 and 9[(a)] of this Act [set out below], shall be construed to—

"(1) impair or limit the construction of the antifraud provisions of the securities laws or the Commodity Exchange Act [7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.] or the authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission under those provisions;

"(2) be in derogation of the obligations, duties, and functions of a Member of Congress, an employee of Congress, an executive branch employee, a judicial officer, or a judicial employee, arising from such person's official position; or

"(3) be in derogation of existing laws, regulations, or ethical obligations governing Members of Congress, employees of Congress, executive branch employees, judicial officers, or judicial employees."

[For definitions of terms used in section 10 of Pub. L. 112–105, set out above, see section 2 of Pub. L. 112–105, set out as a note under section 13101 of this title.]

#### Prohibition of the Use of Nonpublic Information for Private Profit

Pub. L. 112–105, §3, Apr. 4, 2012, 126 Stat. 292, provided that: "The Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate and the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives shall issue interpretive guidance of the relevant rules of each chamber, including rules on conflicts of interest and gifts, clarifying that a Member of Congress and an employee of Congress may not use nonpublic information derived from such person's position as a Member of Congress or employee of Congress or gained from the performance of such person's official responsibilities as a means for making a private profit."

[For definitions of terms used in section 3 of Pub. L. 112–105, set out above, see section 2 of Pub. L. 112–105, set out as a note under section 13101 of this title.]

Pub. L. 112–105, §9(a), Apr. 4, 2012, 126 Stat. 297, provided that:

"(1) Executive branch employees.—The Office of Government Ethics shall issue such interpretive guidance of the relevant Federal ethics statutes and regulations, including the Standards of Ethical Conduct for executive branch employees, related to use of nonpublic information, as necessary to clarify that no executive branch employee may use nonpublic information derived from such person's position as an executive branch employee or gained from the performance of such person's official responsibilities as a means for making a private profit.

"(2) Judicial officers.—The Judicial Conference of the United States shall issue such interpretive guidance of the relevant ethics rules applicable to Federal judges, including the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, as necessary to clarify that no judicial officer may use nonpublic information derived from such person's position as a judicial officer or gained from the performance of such person's official responsibilities as a means for making a private profit.

"(3) Judicial employees.—The Judicial Conference of the United States shall issue such interpretive guidance of the relevant ethics rules applicable to judicial employees as necessary to clarify that no judicial employee may use nonpublic information derived from such person's position as a judicial employee or gained from the performance of such person's official responsibilities as a means for making a private profit."

[For definitions of terms used in section 9(a) of Pub. L. 112–105, set out above, see section 2 of Pub. L. 112–105, set out as a note under section 13101 of this title.]