Which publication establishes the basic ethical principles and guidelines that must be followed by every government employee?

Which publication establishes the basic ethical principles and guidelines that must be followed by every government employee?

• A. The DoD Ethics Regulation
• B. The Joint Ethics Regulation
• C. Title 5, CFR, Part 2635, Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch
• D. The Federal Personnel Policy

Answer: (C)

Universal ethical standards for executive branch employees are established by the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, codified at Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 2635. This publication sets the baseline rules that govern conduct across all federal agencies, including general standards of ethical behavior, handling conflicts of interest, gifts, outside activities, misuse of position, and post-employment restrictions. Because it applies to every executive branch employee, it serves as the foundational reference used for training, compliance, and enforcement across agencies. The other options are more narrowly scoped: the DoD Ethics Regulation covers Department of Defense personnel, the Joint Ethics Regulation is a DoD supplement for joint operations, and Federal Personnel Policy is not a single universal ethics standard for all employees.

Universal ethical standards for executive branch employees are established by the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, codified at Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 2635. This publication sets the baseline rules that govern conduct across all federal agencies, including general standards of ethical behavior, handling conflicts of interest, gifts, outside activities, misuse of position, and post-employment restrictions. Because it applies to every executive branch employee, it serves as the foundational reference used for training, compliance, and enforcement across agencies. The other options are more narrowly scoped: the DoD Ethics Regulation covers Department of Defense personnel, the Joint Ethics Regulation is a DoD supplement for joint operations, and Federal Personnel Policy is not a single universal ethics standard for all employees.