Compilation of Federal Ethics Laws Revised as of January 1, 2019

In this official regulatory reference guide you will find insights into the laws under the jurisdiction of the ethics program prepared by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE).  

Key areas covered within this updated compilation through the 115 Congress include: 

• Conflict of Interest
• Procurement and Contracting
• Gifts and Travel
• Employment
• Government Property and Information
• Taxes in Certain Matters
• Political Activities
• Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
• and more

I. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

18 U.S.C. § 201. Bribery of public officials and witnesses

18 U.S.C. § 202. Definitions

18 U.S.C. § 203. Compensation to Members of Congress, officers, and others in matters affecting the Government

18 U.S.C. § 204. Practice in United States Court of Federal Claims or the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit by Members of Congress

18 U.S.C. § 205. Activities of officers and employees in claims against and other matters affecting the Government

18 U.S.C. § 206. Exemption of retired officers of the uniformed services

18 U.S.C. § 207. Restrictions on former officers, employees, and elected officials of the executive and legislative branches

18 U.S.C. § 208. Acts affecting a personal financial interest

18 U.S.C. § 209. Salary of Government officials and employees payable only by United States

18 U.S.C. § 210. Offer to procure appointive public office

18 U.S.C. § 211. Acceptance or solicitation to obtain appointive public office

18 U.S.C. § 216. Penalties and injunctions

18 U.S.C. § 218. Voiding transactions in violation of chapter; recovery by the United States

18 U.S.C. § 219. Officers and employees acting as agents of foreign principals

II. ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT ACT OF 1978

A. Public Financial Disclosure Requirements

5 U.S.C. app. § 101. Persons required to file

5 U.S.C. app. § 102. Contents of reports

5 U.S.C. app. § 103. Filing of reports

5 U.S.C. app. § 104. Failure to file or filing false reports

5 U.S.C. app. § 105. Custody of and public access to reports

Pub. L. 112-105 §§ 8(a)-(b) (STOCK Act). Public filing and disclosure of financial disclosure forms of Members of Congress and congressional staff

Pub. L. 112-105 § 11 (STOCK Act). Executive branch reporting

5 U.S.C. app. § 106. Review of reports

5 U.S.C. app. § 107. Confidential reports and other additional requirements

5 U.S.C. app. § 108. Authority of Comptroller General

5 U.S.C. app. § 109. Definitions

5 U.S.C. app. § 110. Notice of actions taken to comply with ethics agreements

5 U.S.C. app. § 111. Administration of provisions

B. Office of Government Ethics

5 U.S.C. app. § 401. Establishment; appointment of Director

5 U.S.C. app. § 402. Authority and functions

5 U.S.C. app. § 403. Administrative provisions

5 U.S.C. app. § 404. Rules and regulations

5 U.S.C. app. § 405. Authorization of appropriations

5 U.S.C. app. § 408. Reports to Congress

C. Outside Earned Income and Activities

5 U.S.C. app. § 501. Outside earned income limitation
5 U.S.C. app. § 502. Limitations on outside employment

5 U.S.C. app. § 503. Administration

5 U.S.C. app. § 504. Civil Penalties

5 U.S.C. app. § 505. Definitions

D. Use of Nonpublic Information for Private Profit

Pub. L. 112-105 § 3 (STOCK Act). Prohibition of the use of nonpublic information for private profit

Pub. L. 112-105 § 9(a) (STOCK Act). Other Federal officials

E. Post-Employment Negotiation Restrictions

Pub. L. 112-105 § 17 (STOCK Act). Post-employment negotiation restrictions

F. General Provisions (STOCK Act)

Pub. L. 112-105 § 2 (STOCK Act). Definitions
Pub. L. 112-105 § 10 (STOCK Act). Rule of construction

III. PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACTING

A. Restrictions on Obtaining and Disclosing Certain Information

41 U.S.C. § 2101. Definitions

41 U.S.C. § 2102. Prohibitions on disclosing and obtaining procurement information

41 U.S.C. § 2103. Actions required of procurement officers when contacted regarding non-Federal employment

41 U.S.C. § 2104. Prohibition on former official’s acceptance of compensation from contractor

41 U.S.C. § 2105. Penalties and administrative actions

41 U.S.C. § 2106. Reporting information believed to constitute evidence of offense

41 U.S.C. § 2107. Savings provisions

B. Interest of Members of Congress

41 U.S.C. § 6306. Prohibition on Members of Congress making contracts with Federal Government

C. Contracts by or with Members of Congress

18 U.S.C. § 431. Contracts by Member of Congress 

18 U.S.C. § 432. Officer or employee contracting with Member of Congress

18 U.S.C. § 433. Exemptions with respect to certain contracts

IV. GIFTS AND TRAVEL

A. Gifts to Federal employees

5 U.S.C. § 7353. Gifts to Federal employees

5 U.S.C. § 7353 note. Limitation on the Acceptance of Honorary Club Memberships

B. Gifts to Superiors

5 U.S.C. § 7351. Gifts to superiors

C. Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act

5 U.S.C. § 7342. Receipt and disposition of foreign gifts and decorations

D. Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act

22 U.S.C. § 2458a. Federal employee participation in cultural exchange programs

E. Acceptance of Travel and Related Expenses from Non-Federal Sources

31 U.S.C. § 1353. Acceptance of travel and related expenses from non-Federal sources

F. Acceptance of Contributions, Awards, and Other Payments

5 U.S.C. § 4111. Acceptance of contributions, awards, and other payments

V. EMPLOYMENT

A. Nepotism

5 U.S.C. § 3110. Employment of relatives; restrictions

B. Recommendations for Employment by Members of Congress

5 U.S.C. § 3303. Competitive service; recommendations of Senators or Representatives

C. Dual Pay and Division of Salary or Duties

5 U.S.C. § 5533. Dual pay from more than one position; limitations; exceptions

VI. GOVERNMENT PROPERTY AND INFORMATION

A. Government Property

18 U.S.C. § 641. Public money, property or records

18 U.S.C. § 1719. Franking privilege

18 U.S.C. § 1913. Lobbying with appropriated moneys

31 U.S.C. § 1344. Passenger carrier use

B. Information

18 U.S.C. § 798. Disclosure of classified information

18 U.S.C. § 1905. Disclosure of confidential information generally

50 U.S.C. § 783(a). Offenses; Communication of classified information by Government officer or employee

VII. TAXES IN CERTAIN MATTERS

A. Self-Dealings With Foundations

26 U.S.C. § 4941. Taxes on self-dealing

26 U.S.C. § 4946. Definitions and special rules

B. Sale of Property to Comply With Conflict-of-Interest Requirements

26 U.S.C. § 1043. Sale of property to comply with conflict-of-interest requirements

C. Treatment of Sale of Stock Acquired Pursuant to Exercise of Stock Options to Comply With Conflict-of-Interest Requirements

26 U.S.C. § 421. General Rules

VIII. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES

A. Administrative (Hatch Act)

5 U.S.C. § 7321. Political participation 

5 U.S.C. § 7322. Definitions

5 U.S.C. § 7323. Political activity authorized; prohibitions

5 U.S.C. § 7324. Political activities on duty; prohibition

5 U.S.C. § 7325. Political activity permitted; employees residing in certain municipalities

5 U.S.C. § 7326. Penalties

B. Criminal

18 U.S.C. § 601. Deprivation of employment or other benefit for political contribution

18 U.S.C. § 602. Solicitation of political contributions

18 U.S.C. § 603. Making political contributions

18 U.S.C. § 604. Solicitation from persons on relief

18 U.S.C. § 605. Disclosure of names of persons on relief

18 U.S.C. § 606. Intimidation to secure political contributions

18 U.S.C. § 607. Place of solicitation

18 U.S.C. § 608. Absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters

18 U.S.C. § 609. Use of military authority to influence vote of member of Armed Forces

18 U.S.C. § 610. Coercion of political activity

IX. DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES

2 U.S.C. § 1601. Findings

2 U.S.C. § 1602. Definitions

2 U.S.C. § 1603. Registration of lobbyists

X. MISCELLANEOUS STATUTES

5 U.S.C. § 557(d). Ex parte communication

18 U.S.C. § 2. Principals

18 U.S.C. § 1001. Statements or entries generally

Federal government employees, Federal government agency ethics officers, human resources managers, supervisors, contracting officers, and others that are employed to serve in public trust roles may be interested in this reference.  Students pursuing degrees in public administration or pursuing course work in classes, such as business and government contracting, law, ethics, and public policy may also be interested in this resource.