Source: http://www.justice.gov/jmd/ethics/generalg.htm
Timestamp: 2013-05-20 00:24:16
Document Index: 688465849

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 502', '§ 7321', '§ 7342', '§ 1353', '§ 7342', '§ 207', '§ 207', '§ 203']

Home » Agencies » Justice Management Division » Departmental Ethics Office » Regulations, Authorities & Reference Materials » Summary of Government Ethics Rules for New Department Officials
Printer-friendly Ethics Rules for New Department Officials *
Most of the ethics restrictions are found in sections 202 to 209 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code and in Executive Order 12674 as modified by EO 12731. The Executive Order is implemented by regulations at 5 CFR 2635. The Justice Department has supplemented these branch-wide regulations with specific rules that apply to Department employees at 5 CFR 3801. This document is only a summary. You should refer to the actual laws and regulations cited below when you have a question. Seeking Advice
If you have a continuing financial interest in your former employer, to include a law firm, you would have to disqualify yourself from or seek a waiver for any matter affecting the former employer's interests. If your spouse is a partner in, or owner of, a firm, you also would have to disqualify yourself or seek a waiver before participating in any matter affecting that firm. Impartiality in Performing Duties
The standards of conduct address matters that do not affect your financial interests but which could reflect on your impartiality. You may not participate, without a waiver, in a particular matter involving specific parties which you know is likely to affect the financial interests of a member of your household. You also may have to disqualify yourself from a matter if someone with whom you have a personal or business relationship is a party or represents a party to the matter. This would include a former employer, even without a continuing financial interest, your former clients, an organization you worked for actively in the last year and your spouse's employer. 5 CFR 2635.501 & .502. If you are an attorney, you would have to disqualify yourself from any case in which you participated before entering government. Generally, you would not be allowed to remain on leave of absence from a law firm while with the Justice Department.
You may not serve as an expert witness in any proceeding before a court or agency of the U.S. in which the U.S. is a party or has an interest unless it is authorized as being in the interest of the government. 5 CFR 2635.805. Teaching, Speaking and Writing
Employees are prohibited from accepting compensation for speaking or writing, and in some cases, teaching (2) that relates to official duties. These activities relate to your official duties if you were invited to speak or write because of your official position or by someone whose interests you may affect in performing your duties, if the information you convey is not publicly available or the subject deals with: Any matter to which you are presently assigned or have been assigned during the previous one-year period; Any ongoing or announced policy, program or operation of the Department; or
In the case of a noncareer (political) employee above GS-15, the general subject matter, area, industry or economic sector primarily affected by the programs and operations of the Department. In addition, employees at this level must have approval from the Assistant Attorney General for Administration/DAEO official to engage in teaching for compensation. There should be no use of your official title to promote your teaching, speaking or writing except for inclusion in biographical details or in a scholarly article with a disclaimer. 5 CFR 2635.807.
A noncareer (political) employee paid above GS-15 may not be compensated for serving as a member of a board, engaging in activities that involve a fiduciary relationship, or being employed by a firm that provides such services. Nor may he allow his name to be used by such an entity. 5 U.S.C. app. 7 § 502. Fundraising
You may not engage in fundraising in your official capacity unless authorized by statute or regulation. You may engage in fundraising in your personal capacity if you do not solicit funds from a subordinate or from someone who has or seeks business with the Department, and you do not use your official title. There are exceptions for solicitations using the media or mass mailings if they are not targeted to your subordinates or persons having business with the Department; and for a speech related to your official duties that is given at a fundraiser, provided the event is appropriate for the dissemination of official information and you do not request donations. 5 CFR 2635.808.
All employees may vote, contribute money, sign petitions, express their views and display political stickers and buttons, except when on duty. However, no employee may solicit funds from the public nor use his official authority or influence to interfere with an election. No employee may solicit or discourage the political activities of anyone with business before the Department. No employee may be a partisan candidate for office, nor engage in any political activities, to include wearing buttons, while on duty or in a government office, a government vehicle or while wearing an official uniform. 5 U.S.C. §§ 7321-26. Purchase of Forfeited Property
You may not purchase or use any property forfeited to the government and offered for sale by the Department without a specific waiver from your determining official. 5 CFR 3801.104. Misuse of Position
You may not use nonpublic information to further your own or another's interests. Information designated nonpublic ranges from that protected from disclosure by law, to information that has not been authorized to be made available to the public. Generally, you may not use government property, including official time, for other than authorized purposes. You may not use the time of a subordinate for other than official duties or unless authorized by statute or regulation. 5 CFR 2635.701-.705. However, you may make personal use of equipment such as word processors or library facilities as long as there is no more than a negligible expense to the government. 28 CFR 45.4.
Gifts of $20 or less per occasion and a total of $50 from one source annually; Gifts based on a personal or outside business relationship;
Free attendance, food, and materials, from the sponsor of a conference where you are a speaker or your participation is seen to benefit the Department or a gathering of an industry or profession if your attendance is seen to further agency programs and is approved; and Gifts from foreign governments up to $335. 5 U.S.C. § 7342. Food and refreshments not offered as part of a meal, greeting cards and plaques, favorable rates, commercial discounts, rewards and prizes in events open to the public are excluded from the definition of a gift. 5 CFR 2635.203 & 204. You still may not accept gifts from the same or different sources so frequently that it would appear to be misuse of public office.
A non-federal source for attendance at meetings and other functions, but not to carry out statutory functions. 31 U.S.C. § 1353 & 41 CFR 304. Foreign governments when overseas. 5 U.S.C. § 7342. You may use frequent flyer benefits earned from official government travel for personal travel. 41 CFR 301-53. Supplementation of Government Salary
On occasions when gifts are traditionally exchanged, such as birthdays, you may give a gift to a superior or accept a gift from a subordinate of $10 or less. You may share refreshments to mark the occasion and give and accept gifts of personal hospitality. On special occasions generally not related to work, you may make, and solicit from fellow employees, voluntary contributions of a nominal amount for a gift to a superior or for shared refreshments. 5 CFR 2635.301-.304.
Under the standards of conduct, you may be required to disqualify yourself from participating in a matter that affects the financial interests of a prospective employer when you are seeking, but not yet negotiating for employment. Seeking employment generally includes sending a resume. 5 CFR 2635.601-.606. Post-Employment Restrictions
For one year, officials subject to 18 U.S.C. §§ 207(c) and (d) are prohibited from representing, aiding or advising a foreign entity with the intent to influence a federal employee. 18 U.S.C. § 207(f). A former employee is prohibited from sharing in fees resulting from representational services rendered by another at the time the former employee was with the government and concerning a matter in which the U.S. is a party or has a direct and substantial interest. 18 U.S.C. § 203. (This will affect former employees who leave government to become partners in a law firm.)
2. Most employees may accept compensation for teaching a course requiring multiple presentations as part of the curriculum of a recognized institution of learning even when the subject matter relates to their official duties. 3. Senior employees include: Executive Level officials; SES and employees in other pay systems with an annual rate of basic pay (excluding locality adjustments) at or above 86.5 percent of the rate for level II of the Executive Schedule ($148,953 as of January, 2008). Executive Level personnel will be barred from the whole Department, while those in the SES and other pay systems may only be barred from certain parts of the Department. Updated: January 2013