Legal Definitions - OGE

Definition: OGE stands for Office of Government Ethics. It is an independent agency in the executive branch that is responsible for:

• Issuing rules and regulations about ethical conduct and financial disclosure
• Providing training in ethics
• Monitoring the ethics of practices in departments and agencies
• Giving guidance on matters of ethics

The agency was established under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and became a separate agency in 1988. The abbreviation for Office of Government Ethics is OGE.

Example: The Office of Government Ethics provides training to government employees on how to avoid conflicts of interest. For example, if a government employee owns stock in a company that the government is considering awarding a contract to, that employee may have a conflict of interest. The OGE provides guidance on how to handle these situations ethically.

Explanation: This example illustrates how the OGE provides guidance on matters of ethics. The agency helps government employees understand what constitutes a conflict of interest and how to avoid them. This is important to ensure that government decisions are made in the best interest of the public, rather than for personal gain.