Legal Advisories
The Legal Advisories page contains the DAEOgrams on substantive ethics issues published by OGE from 1992 to 2010, the Advisory Opinions published by OGE from 1979 to 2010, and the Legal Advisories, which OGE began publishing in 2011. On occasion, OGE will add notes to past guidance documents when that guidance is updated or superseded by law, regulation, or subsequent OGE guidance.
12/21/2005
05x8: Employees' Participation in Paid Surveys
18 U.S.C. § 209 does not bar most employees from being paid for participating during non-duty hours in a survey related to insurance offered to federal employees. However, employees must comply with their agency supplemental regulation regarding outside activities because being paid for the survey participation is considered part-time employment.
11/17/2005
DO-05-019: Documenting Ethics Advice
OGE sets out basic factors that agency ethics officials should consider in making a determination about whether verbal ethics advice should be documented, and what such documentation should include.
11/01/2005
05x7: Issues Pertaining to Covered Noncareer Employee
Provides guidance on various restrictions on covered noncareer employee pursuant to Title V of Ethics in Government Act and 5 C.F.R. part 2636; also guidance with respect to determining status as special government employee
09/19/2005
05x6: Discussion of Certain Post-Government Employment Restrictions
OGE provides guidance for determining when a particular matter involving specific parties comes into existence for purposes of the post-government employment restrictions at 18 U.S.C. § 207(a) in situations involving multi-year, multi-phase, multi-contract Government procurement programs. Usually, specific parties are first identified when initial proposals or indications of interest are received by the Government.
09/07/2005
DO-05-014: 2004 Conflict of Interest Prosecution Survey
2004 Conflict of Interest Prosecution Survey
08/26/2005
05x5: Exclusion of Contest Prizes from Gift Definition
Employee was prohibited from keeping a prize won at a national association conference because all attendees paid to attend the conference and thus the random drawing was not "open to the public" as used in the gift exclusion at 5 C.F.R. § 2635.203(b)(5).
08/18/2005
05x4: Federal Advisory Committee Appointments
OGE provides guidance to ethics officials about distinguishing between special Government employees and representatives serving on Federal advisory committees.
08/18/2005
DO-05-012: Federal Advisory Committee Appointments
OGE provides guidance to ethics officials about distinguishing between special Government employees and representatives serving on Federal advisory committees.
06/08/2005
05x3: Post-Government Employment Restrictions Applied to a Former Senior Employee Now Employed by a Government Contractor
OGE discusses applicability of 18 U.S.C. § 207 to a former senior employee. OGE discusses 18 U.S.C. § 207(c), "intent to influence," and the special knowledge exception in 18 U.S.C. § 207(j)(4).
04/18/2005
05x2(2): Definitions of Covered Noncareer Employee
OGE discusses definitions of "covered noncareer employee" under 5 C.F.R. § 2636.303(a)(4) and 5 C.F.R. § 2636.303(a)(3), as well as Schedule C appointment criteria.
03/17/2005
DO-05-007: Increased Gifts and Travel Reimbursements Reporting Thresholds for Financial Disclosure Reports
OGE issues final rule amendments (March 2005) that revise the financial disclosure regulations to reflect the statutory increase of the thresholds for reporting of gifts, reimbursements and travel expenses.
02/10/2005
05x1: 18 U.S.C. § 208 and Development of Policy Options
The proposed work of a Government panel addressing policy options for tax reform does not constitute a particular matter for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 208.
02/10/2005
05x2(1): Applicability of 18 U.S.C. § 205 to Employee's Filing of Registration Statement for Outside Organization
An employee who serves as an unpaid board director/trustee for an outside organization did not provide representational services under 18 U.S.C. § 205 by signing a registration statement on behalf of the organization.