Civil Service FAQ Civil Service Ethics Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A federal employee is offered a gift basket from a contractor their agency oversees. The basket contains items valued at a total of $35. According to the general rule on gifts from outside sources, what should the employee do?
- Accept the basket, as the total value is less than the $50 annual limit from a single source.
- Decline the gift because it exceeds the $20 per-occasion limit. (Correct answer)
- Accept the gift but report it to their supervisor immediately.
- Decline the gift but suggest the contractor donate it to a charity.
Correct answer: Decline the gift because it exceeds the $20 per-occasion limit.
The general rule for gifts from prohibited sources (like contractors) states that an employee may not accept a gift valued at more than $20 on a single occasion. While there is a $50 annual limit for gifts from one source, each individual gift must not exceed the $20 threshold.
Question 2: Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a violation of the principle that 'Public service is a public trust'?
- An employee uses their government-issued laptop to complete a required training course at home after work hours.
- A manager provides a detailed and honest performance review for a subordinate they personally dislike.
- An inspector accepts a free lunch from a company they are currently auditing, believing it will not influence their findings. (Correct answer)
- A federal scientist publishes their research findings in a peer-reviewed journal in accordance with agency policy.
Correct answer: An inspector accepts a free lunch from a company they are currently auditing, believing it will not influence their findings.
The principle 'Public service is a public trust' requires employees to place loyalty to the Constitution, laws, and ethical principles above private gain. Accepting a gift from an entity one is tasked with overseeing creates an appearance of impropriety and could be seen as using a public office for private gain, thereby violating this core trust.
Question 3: A senior federal employee leaves their government position to work for a private company. They are immediately assigned to represent the company in a contract negotiation with their former agency. The employee had personally and substantially participated in the early stages of this same contract matter while employed by the government. Which post-employment restriction is most directly violated?
- The one-year 'cooling-off' period for senior employees.
- The two-year restriction on matters under their 'official responsibility'.
- The lifetime ban on matters in which they participated 'personally and substantially'. (Correct answer)
- The prohibition on aiding foreign entities.
Correct answer: The lifetime ban on matters in which they participated 'personally and substantially'.
Federal ethics rules include a lifetime ban that prohibits former employees from communicating with or appearing before the government on behalf of another party concerning specific matters in which they participated 'personally and substantially' during their government service.
Question 4: An employee at a federal agency learns nonpublic information that a specific alternative energy technology, currently being developed by several private companies, will soon receive a major, unexpected government grant. Before this information is announced, the employee buys stock in one of the leading companies in that sector. This action primarily violates the ethical principle regarding:
- Putting forth an honest effort in the performance of duties.
- Protecting and conserving Federal property.
- Avoiding actions that create an appearance of violating the law.
- Not using nonpublic Government information to further any private interest. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Not using nonpublic Government information to further any private interest.
One of the Fourteen Principles of Ethical Conduct explicitly prohibits employees from engaging in financial transactions using nonpublic Government information or allowing the improper use of such information to further any private interest. The employee used confidential information obtained through their official position for personal financial gain.
Question 5: Which of the following actions is an appropriate use of government property or an employee's official position?
- Using an agency's official letterhead to write a letter of recommendation for a former subordinate seeking a new federal government job. (Correct answer)
- Briefly using a government computer to check personal social media during a lunch break.
- Asking a subordinate to pick up their personal dry cleaning during the workday since the shop is near the office.
- Endorsing a commercial product in a testimonial video while wearing their official agency uniform.
Correct answer: Using an agency's official letterhead to write a letter of recommendation for a former subordinate seeking a new federal government job.
Ethics regulations generally permit an employee to use their official title and stationery to provide a recommendation for someone they have worked with in the government or for someone seeking federal employment. The other actions represent a misuse of government property, position, or a subordinate's time for private gain.
Question 6: A federal employee has a significant financial interest in a company that is bidding on a contract with their agency. The employee is not on the selection committee but is asked by a colleague to provide an informal technical opinion on the bids. What is the employee's ethical obligation according to the rules on conflicting financial interests?
- Provide the opinion but disclose their financial interest to their colleague.
- Sell their financial interest in the company before providing any opinion.
- Recuse themselves from participating in any capacity in the matter. (Correct answer)
- Provide the opinion, as their role is only advisory and not part of the formal decision.
Correct answer: Recuse themselves from participating in any capacity in the matter.
The criminal conflict of interest statute, 18 U.S.C. § 208, prohibits a federal employee from participating personally and substantially in any particular matter that would have a direct effect on their financial interests. Providing a technical opinion, even informally, constitutes personal and substantial participation. Therefore, the employee must recuse themselves.
Civil Service FAQ Civil Service Ethics Questions and Answers
A federal employee is offered a gift basket from a contractor their agency oversees.
The basket contains items valued at a total of $35.
According to the general rule on gifts from outside sources, what should the employee do?