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Subjects › Personnel › Sample Codes of Ethics
Reviewed 12/2011

Sample Codes of Ethics

Contents

    Introduction

    Trust in government is essential. The public wants to know that the decisions government makes are based facts that are available to be reviewed, and that debate is open to the public. Perhaps even more important, the public does not want the decisions of its elected officials to be based upon factors that are unknown. For example, is the approval of a permit based upon the merits of the application, or upon the receipt of gifts? Can an elected official vote on an issue, if he or she will be directly affected by the decision? State law provides some guidance and protection, but many communities believe that greater transparency is needed. This page looks at local codes of ethics that help guide local officials and employees in the performance of their duties.

    City Codes of Ethics

    Cities with population of 10,000 or more

    Cities with population under 10,000

      County Codes of Ethics

      Counties with population of 125,000 or more

      Counties with population under 125,000

      • Asotin County Personnel Manual Ch. 7 (Adobe Acrobat Document) - Employee Responsibility and Conduct
      • Chelan County Code Sec. 1.20.127 - Ethics and Conduct
      • Clallam County Code Ch. 3.01 - Ethics
      • Cowlitz County Code of Ethics - For Sheriffs
      • Douglas County Code Ch. 2.50 - Code of Conduct - Award or administration of contracts supported by federal grant funds.
      • Grant County Employment Handbook Sec. 1.3 (Adobe Acrobat Document) - Code of Ethics
      • Jefferson County Policies and Procedures Appendix (Adobe Acrobat Document) - Code of Ethics Policy and Procedures
      • Okanogan County Personnel Manual Workplace Conduct

      Statutes

      • RCW 42.23.070 - Prohibited Acts - Sets out four four prohibitions that affect officers (not employees) of local governments
      • Ch. 42.52 RCW - Ethics in Public Service - Provides ethics rules for state officials and employees
      • Ch. 42.30 - Open Public Meetings Act - Requiring meetings of governing bodies be open to the public
      • Ch. 42.56 RCW - Public Records Act - Providing public access to government records
      • Ch. 42.17 RCW - Disclosure of campaign finances and lobbying

      Articles and Other Publications