ALI Approves New Principle of the Law: Government Ethics

The American Law Institute has recently announced their approval of a new Principles of the Law -- Principles of the Law, Government Ethics. These principles comprise the first project from the ALI on the topic of government ethics, with the project beginning back in 2009.

The Principles aim to "offer guidance to government agencies and individuals on the proper standards of conduct that should apply to current and former public employees and officials". Based on the ALI's membership vote, this new Principles of the Law's goal is to delineate tenets and values to shape the field and to "present operational rules that will vindicate those goals in order to provide some guidance to the many governments, particularly at the state and local level, that may be developing ethical standards for the first time or revising, refining, and strengthening rules previously adopted" (*Note: the Principles do not address judicial ethics). 

The approved draft is composed of seven main chapters:

• Chapter 1: Purpose, Scope, and Definitions
• Chapter 2: Gifts from and Financial Relationships with Prohibited Sources
• Chapter 3: Conflicts of Interest and the Outside Activities of Public Servants
• Chapter 4: Election-Related Activities of Public Servants
• Chapter 5: Restrictions on Leaving or Entering Public Service
• Chapter 6: Disclosure
• Chapter 7: Administration and Enforcement of Government Ethics

According to the ALI's press release, the Reporters are currently preparing the Institute's official text for publication. They are authorized to correct and update citations and other references, make editorial and stylistic improvements, and add any remaining essential changes agreed to during membership discussions. Until the official text is published, the drafts approved by the membership are currently the official position of the ALI, and may be cited as such.   

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Jenkins library has access to the tentative drafts of The Principles of the Law, Government Ethics, in print, on our Westlaw terminals (on-site access only), and remotely for most members through HeinOnline.  

Feel free to contact Jenkins' library staff with any questions regarding access or research.