Civil Service FAQ Employee Conduct and Ethics Questions and Answers 3

Question 1

Which federal law makes it a crime for a government employee to embezzle, steal, or knowingly convert government property for personal use?

Accepted Answer

18 U.S.C. § 641

Answer

18 U.S.C. § 641 criminalizes theft, embezzlement, or conversion of government property or funds by federal employees or any person.

Question 2

A supervisor in a federal agency awards a contract to a company owned by their sibling without disclosing the relationship. This is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Nepotism and a conflict of interest requiring recusal

Answer

Awarding a contract to a family member's business without disclosure and recusal constitutes nepotism and a prohibited conflict of interest under federal ethics rules.

Question 3

Under the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, an employee must recuse themselves from a matter when:

Accepted Answer

They have a financial interest that could be affected by the outcome

Answer

Employees must recuse themselves from official matters in which they have a personal financial interest that could be affected, to avoid a conflict of interest.

Question 4

What is the primary purpose of a civil servant filing a financial disclosure report?

Accepted Answer

To identify and manage potential conflicts between the employee's financial interests and official duties

Answer

Financial disclosure reports are filed so that ethics officials can identify potential conflicts of interest between an employee's personal finances and their official government responsibilities.

Question 5

A civil service employee uses their government-issued laptop to run a small personal online business during lunch breaks. This conduct is:

Accepted Answer

Generally prohibited as misuse of government property for private gain

Answer

Using government-issued equipment for personal business activities is generally prohibited as misuse of government property, even during break periods, unless agency policy explicitly permits it.

Civil Service FAQ Practice Test

Civil Service FAQ Practice Test

Civil Service FAQ Employee Conduct and Ethics Questions and Answers 3