An act to provide for the display of the Code of Ethics for Government Service.
PL 96-303 (H.R.5997), enacted 07/03/1980

PUBLIC LAW 96-303—JULY 3, 1980 
94 STAT. 855 
Public Law 96-303 
96th Congress 
An Act 
To provide for the display of the Code of Ethics for Government Service. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled. That, under such 
regulations as the Administrator shall prescribe, each agency shall 
display in appropriate areas of Federal buildings copies of the Code of 
Ethics for Government Service. 
SEC. 2. (a) The Administrator shall provide for the publication of 
copies of such Code of Ethics and for their distribution to agencies for 
use under the first section of this Act. 
(b) The Administrator may accept on behalf of the United States 
any unconditional gift made for purposes of this Act. 
SEC. 3. For purposes of this Act— 
(1) the term "agency" means an Executive agency (as defined 
by section 105 of title 5, United States Code), the United States 
Postal Service, and the Postal Rate Commission; 
(2) the term "Administrator" means the Administrator of the 
General Services Administration; 
(3) the Code of Ethics for Government Service shall read as 
follows— 
CODE OF ETHICS FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICE 
Any person in Government service should: 
I. Put loyalty to the highest moral principles and to 
country above loyalty to persons, party, or Government 
department. 
II. Uphold the Constitution, laws, and regulations of the 
United States and of all governments therein and never be a 
party to their evasion. 
III. Give a full day's labor for a full day's pay; giving 
earnest effort and best thought to the performance of duties. 
IV. Seek to find and employ more efficient and economical 
ways of getting tasks accomplished. 
V. Never discriminate unfairly by the dispensing of spe-
cial favors or privileges to anyone, whether for remunera-
tion or not; and never accept, for himself or herself or for 
family members, favors or benefits under circumstances 
which might be construed by reasonable persons as influenc-
ing the performance of governmental duties. 
VI. Make no private promises of any kind binding upon 
the duties of office, since a Government employee has no 
private word which can be binding on public duty. 
VII. Engage in no business with the Government, either 
directly or indirectly, which is inconsistent with the consci-
entious performance of governmental duties. 
July 3, 1980 
[H.R. 5997] 
Code of Ethics 
for Government 
Service. 
Display in 
Federal 
buildings; GSA 
regulations 
5 u s e 7301 note. 
Publication and 
distribution. 
5 u s e 7301 note. 
Gifts. 
Definitions. 
5 u s e 7301 note. 
94 STAT. 856 
PUBLIC LAW 96-303—JULY 3, 1980 
"Federal 
building." 
Effective date. 
5 u s e 7301 note. 
Costs. 
Vni. Never use any infonnation gained confidentially in 
the performance of governmental duties as a means of 
making private proHt. 
IX. Expose corruption wherever discovered. 
X. Uphold these principles, ever conscious that public 
office is a public trust. 
Your agency ethics official and the Office of Government Ethics 
are available to answer questions on conflicts of interest; and 
(4) the term "Federal building" means any building in which at 
least 20 individuals are regularly employed by an agency as 
civilian employees. 
SEC. 4. The provisions of this Act shall take effect October 1,1980. 
There shall be no costs imposed on the Federal Government for the 
printing, framing or other preparation of the Code of Ethics for 
Government Service imder tms Act. 
Approved July 3, 1980. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 96-1073 (Comm. on Post Office and Civil Service). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 126 (1980): 
June 9, 10, considered and passed House. 
June 13, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
July 27, House agreed to Senate amendments.