Civil Service FAQ Civil Service Ethics Questions and Answers Flashcards
6 cards from real Civil Service FAQ practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Civil Service FAQ Civil Service Ethics Questions and Answers flashcards as text
Which federal law is the primary statute governing ethics standards for executive branch employees?
Answer: The Ethics in Government Act of 1978
The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 established the foundation for financial disclosure requirements and conduct standards for federal executive branch employees.
A state civil servant receives a free ticket to a sporting event from a lobbyist. Under most state ethics codes, this is problematic because:
Answer: Accepting gifts from individuals who seek to influence official decisions creates a conflict of interest
Accepting gifts from lobbyists or others who seek to influence government decisions undermines impartiality and is prohibited or restricted under most state ethics codes.
An employee learns of an ongoing ethics investigation about a colleague. What is the most ethical response?
Answer: Keep the information confidential and cooperate with investigators if asked
Confidentiality of ongoing investigations must be maintained to protect the integrity of the process and the rights of all parties involved.
Which behavior violates the duty of loyalty owed by a civil servant to the public?
Answer: Leaking confidential government data to a private competitor for personal profit
Sharing confidential government information for personal gain betrays the public trust and violates the employee's fiduciary duty to serve the public interest.
Under the Hatch Act, most federal civilian employees are prohibited from:
Answer: Running for partisan political office while employed in a career federal position
The Hatch Act bars most career federal employees from running as candidates in partisan elections to prevent the politicization of the civil service.
Which of the following best describes a 'financial disclosure' requirement in civil service ethics?
Answer: A requirement for certain employees to report assets, income, and positions that could create conflicts of interest
Financial disclosure forms require designated employees to report outside income, investments, and positions so ethics officials can identify potential conflicts of interest.