The U.S. House Resolution stated, “Resolved by the House of Representatives {the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the following Code of Ethics should be adhered to by all Government employees, including office holders:”
The U.S. Senate, by unanimous consent, “understands and intends that this resolution apply to every servant of the public whether he be the President, a Member of Congress, a lifelong career employee … It believes there is no room in a great democracy such as ours for any set of double standards.”
Public law enacted states, in part, “the Code of Ethics for Government Service shall read as follows-
“Code of Ethics for Government Service
“Any person in Government service should:
“I. Put loyalty to the highest moral principles and to country above loyalty to persons, party, or Government department.
“II. Uphold the Constitution, laws, and regulations of the United States and of all governments therein and never be a party to their evasion.
“III. Give a full day’s labor for a full day’s pay; giving earnest effort and best thought to the performance of duties.
“IV. Seek to find and employ more efficient and economical ways of getting tasks accomplished.
“V. Never discriminate unfairly by the dispensing of special favors or privileges to anyone, whether for remuneration or not; and never accept, for himself or herself or for family members, favors or benefits under circumstances which might be construed by reasonable persons as influencing the performance of governmental duties.
“VI. Make no private promises of any kind binding upon the duties of office, since a Government employee has no private word which can be binding on public duty.
“VII. Engage in no business with the Government, either directly or indirectly, which is inconsistent with the conscientious performance of governmental duties.
“VIII. Never use any information gained confidentially in the performance of governmental duties as a means of making a private profit.
“IX. Expose corruption wherever discovered.
“X. Uphold these principles, ever conscious that public office is a public trust.”
Is it no wonder Americans are disgruntled with their national government?
(Sources: (1) Pub. L. 96–303, July 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 855. Code of Ethics for Government Service. (2) B12 July 11, 1958 [H. Con. Res. 175] July 15, 1958 Concurrent Resolutions – July 11, 1958 [72 Stat.]. Code of Ethics for Government Service, 72 Statutes at Large B12, House Concurrent Resolution 175, 85th Congress, 2nd Session, January 7, 1958–August 24, 1958, Enacted July 11, 1958. (3) 13556-13557 Congressional Record – Senate, July 11, 1958, Code of Ethics for Government Service.)