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Ethics & Professional Conduct

Public Officials / Employees

• Agencies / Organizations
  • Wisconsin
    • WI Government Accountability Board
      Administers Wisconsin's ethics code & lobbying law and investigates possible violations.
      • Advisory Opinions
    • WI Commission on Waste, Fraud, and Abuse (WI Governor's Office)
    • WI Legislative Audit Bureau
      Assists Legislature in maintaining oversight of state operations.
  • Federal
    • Ethics Data.gov
      Provides access to lobbying disclosures, campaign finance information, and White House visitor records.
    • U.S. House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
    • U.S. Office of Government Ethics
      Works to prevent conflict of interest on the part of executive branch employees and to resolve such conflicts. Offers information and U.S. Code citations regarding common ethics issues.
      • Advisory Opinions
    • U.S. Office of Special Counsel
      An independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency. Protects federal employees and applicants from prohibited personnel practices.
      • Political Activity (Hatch Act)
        Restrictions on political activity by federal government employees, and by employees of certain state and local government agencies.
    • U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics
      
      
• Complaints
  • Fraud, Waste, and Mismanagement Hotline (WI Legislative Audit Bureau)
  • How to File a Complaint (WI Government Accountability Board)
  • Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Commission Comments (WI Governor's Office)
  • U.S. Office of Special Counsel
    Or file electronically
  • Wisconsin Attorneys
    • Fee Arbitration Program (State Bar of Wisconsin)
      "Alternative to litigation for lawyers and clients who are unable to agree upon a fee charged for legal services."
  • Forms
    • Notice of Injury and Claim (WI Dept. of Justice)
      Claims against state employees for injury, damage or death.
      
      
• Directories
  • Ethics Officials Directory by Government Agency (US Office of Government Ethics)
    
    
• Rules / Standards of Conduct / Ethics
  • Wisconsin
    • Ethics, Lobbying, Elections, and Campaign Finance (WI Legislative Council)
    • Standards of Conduct (WI Government Accountability Board)
      Provides numerous guidelines under the categories: Standards of Conduct for Public Officials and Officials' Receipt of Food, Drink, Favors, Services, etc.
    • Pecuniary Interest FAQs (League of WI Municipalities)
  • Federal
    • Laws and Regulations (U.S. Office of Government Ethics)
      Includes: Compilation of Federal Ethics Laws, executive orders, federal register issuances, agency supplemental standards, etc.

The Law (Additional statutes, regulations & opinions may apply to your specific situation.)

• WI Statutes: ch. 19 "General Duties of Public Officials"
• U.S. Code: 5 U.S.C. 7351-7353 "Gifts to Superiors, Excessive and Habitual Use of Intoxicants, Gifts to Federal Employees"
• U.S. Code: 5 U.S.C. 1501-1508 "Political Activity of Certain State and Local Employees"
• U.S. Code: 5 U.S.C. 2301 "Merit System Principles"
• U.S. Code: 5 U.S.C. 7321-7326 "Political Activities"

Search for more statutes, regulations & opinions.

Professions

• Wisconsin
  • WI Dept. of Safety & Professional Services Boards, Committees, & Councils
    Includes rules, etc. governing business and health professions.
• General
  • BELL: The Business Ethics Links Library
    Access codes of ethics for U.S. companies and trade & professional associations. 
  • Codes of Ethics Online (Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions)

Last Updated: February 5, 2013 | Up to Top