The Model Ethics Code Project

When considering new or improved ethics programs, officials and attorneys often turn to mediocre programs in neighboring towns and often borrow vague or inappropriate language neither they nor others truly understand. With the Model Code Project, this should no longer be the case.

The second goal is to spark discussion of the many fundamental and specific issues surrounding the creation, improvement, and implementation of ethics programs in municipal government. The Model Code Project is an organic code, constantly growing and improving.

It is also a participatory project. Municipal ethics practitioners, attorneys, officials, and employees are encouraged to share their ideas and experiences concerning ethics programs, including alternative approaches to problems, and the best and worst practices they have seen.

The Model Code Project is set up so that people can enter comments about each ethics provision. Simply click wherever it says “To discuss this provision, click here.”

Municipal ethics programs will greatly benefit from the information and the discussions to be found in the Model Code Project. Please share your knowledge and experience with others to make this a truly valuable resource.

Go to the Overview of the Model Code Project.

Please note that we require that you Register as a user on the City Ethics website before you can access the Model Code in its entirety, as we would like to be able to obtain feedback from you as to how it has proved useful in your agency or activity.

Please REGISTER HERE as a City Ethics website user.

We thank you in advance for your participation, and would appreciate it if you could let us know if you choose to use any of the provisions in the model code for your agency.