In California, state and federal laws create a complex set of requirements laws that guide elected officials and agency staff in their service to their communities. These laws are one source of guidance on what they should do or not do in a given situation.
The Institute offers a suite of ethics publications designed to help California local officials meet both the law’s and the public’s expectations for public servants.Read more »
The United States Supreme Court has rejected a First Amendment challenge to the application of Nevada’s conflict of interest law. See Nevada Commission on Ethics v. Carrigan, ___ U.S. ___ (June 13, 2011).
A local official who had been censured under the law challenged the law as an impermissible infringement on his First Amendment rights to vote. The ethics enforcement authorities in his state had determined that the local official violated Nevada’s laws when he voted on a matter in which his longtime friend and campaign manager would financially benefit. The Court disagreed with the local official's argument that the enforcement action violated his rights. Read more »
In general, the public is skeptical about people trying to curry favor with public officials through gift-giving. To understand the complex rules related to gifts, it’s helpful to first understand the key principles on which the rules are based and what the rules are intended to accomplish. Visit ILG's Gift Resource Center for more information on this topic.
The California Attorney General's office has updated its guide to understanding many of the state's ethics laws. Although titled a "conflicts of interest" guide, the booklet explains non-conflicts issues such as gifts and acceptance of free transportation. Read more »
National Association of City Transportation Officials Urban Bikeway Design Guide provides state-of-the-practice solutions that can help create safe and enjoyable streets for bicyclists.
The Climate Action and Sustainability Best Practices Framework includes ideas from local agencies in ten topic areas and links to case stories that illustrate each practice.
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