Frequently Asked Questions

a.    Related statutes (Section 2635.902).

Yes. Numerous statutes have rules regulating the conduct of employees of the Department. You have an obligation to learn about the statutes and what restrictions they contain. You are accountable for each of them.

They include sections of the criminal code (18 U.S.C.
§ § 201-209 [criminal ethics laws], 1001 [fraud or false statements], 2071 [concealing, mutilating, or destroying
a public record], and others); prohibitions on acceptance of compensation from contractors (41 U.S.C. § 423(d)); a prohibition on gifts to supervisors (5 U.S.C. § 7351); a
prohibition on misuse of a Government vehicle (31 U.S.C.
§ 1344); a prohibition on certain personnel practices
(5 U.S.C. § 2302); and more. You should refer to the
Standards to review the statutes they include.

b.    Political Activity.

It depends. Federal time (specifically the official time of an employee) or funds (including equipment and services such as email) may NOT be used to support a partisan candidate or issue. The same rules prohibit displaying partisan political buttons, stickers or other such items in space or vehicles uses by the Government for official business. However, you may attend partisan political events in your personal capacity at your own expense.

However, in the unusual circumstance that you have an official, job-related function to perform at the event, and your attendance will be a benefit to the Federal Government, you may attend. An example of this rare situation of appropriate attendance would be assignment as security or administrative support for a PAS (Presidential appointee with Senate Confirmation) attending such an event.

The employee always should consult in advance with his or her Ethics Advisor if he or she has questions about attendance.