Civil Service FAQ Civil Service Ethics Questions and Answers 3

Question 1

Which federal law is the primary statute governing ethics standards for executive branch employees?

Accepted Answer

The Ethics in Government Act of 1978

Answer

The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 established the foundation for financial disclosure requirements and conduct standards for federal executive branch employees.

Question 2

A state civil servant receives a free ticket to a sporting event from a lobbyist. Under most state ethics codes, this is problematic because:

Accepted Answer

Accepting gifts from individuals who seek to influence official decisions creates a conflict of interest

Answer

Accepting gifts from lobbyists or others who seek to influence government decisions undermines impartiality and is prohibited or restricted under most state ethics codes.

Question 3

An employee learns of an ongoing ethics investigation about a colleague. What is the most ethical response?

Accepted Answer

Keep the information confidential and cooperate with investigators if asked

Answer

Confidentiality of ongoing investigations must be maintained to protect the integrity of the process and the rights of all parties involved.

Question 4

Which behavior violates the duty of loyalty owed by a civil servant to the public?

Accepted Answer

Leaking confidential government data to a private competitor for personal profit

Answer

Sharing confidential government information for personal gain betrays the public trust and violates the employee's fiduciary duty to serve the public interest.

Question 5

Under the Hatch Act, most federal civilian employees are prohibited from:

Accepted Answer

Running for partisan political office while employed in a career federal position

Answer

The Hatch Act bars most career federal employees from running as candidates in partisan elections to prevent the politicization of the civil service.

Civil Service FAQ Practice Test

Civil Service FAQ Practice Test

Civil Service FAQ Civil Service Ethics Questions and Answers 3