Public Officials and Employees Rules

Public service is a public trust, requiring officials and employees to place loyalty to the citizens, the laws, and ethical principles above private gain. Following ethical guidelines and eliminating any improprieties, or even the appearance of potential corruption, is imperative to safeguarding the public’s trust in government. To help accomplish this goal, laws exist to aid public officials in avoiding conflicts between an official’s public duties and the official’s personal interests.  

Whether elected, appointed, or hired, good governance depends on officials and staff knowing, understanding, and following the duties and responsibilities of being a public servant as well as the relevant laws and requirements that govern it.

Many public officials are required to periodically take an ethics training course to educate them on general ethics principles, as well as specific laws related to conflicts of interests, receiving gifts and honoraria, and government transparency. 

In addition, the Act requires government agencies that produce campaign advertisements to report their activities, while certain mass mailings are prohibited. 

The Act also imposes limits and restrictions on the receipt of gifts, loans and travel payments and places certain restrictions on state and local public officials after they leave government service.