Question

The contractor gives a federal employee tickets to a local production of a Broadway play. The tickets are worth $20. Was an ethics law or regulation violated? If so, which one?

A) No ethics law or regulation was violated as the value of the tickets is within an acceptable limit.

B) Violation of the Anti-Kickback Act.

C) Violation of the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch.

D) Acceptable under the Federal Gift Rules.

Answer 1

A federal employee accepting tickets from a contractor is likely a violation of the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, indicating a potential ethics violation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question concerns whether a federal employee accepting tickets to a Broadway play from a contractor constitutes a violation of ethics laws or regulations. Given the context provided, it appears that this scenario would likely be in violation of the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch. The Standards are in place to prevent conflicts of interest and maintain the integrity of public servants. In general, federal employees are prohibited from soliciting or accepting gifts from contractors, lobbyists, or entities that conduct business with or are regulated by the employee's agency, regardless of the gift's value. Although there are exceptions, such as when the gift value is minimal (generally under $20), it is typically not permissible for federal employees to accept valuable items which could be perceived as an attempt to influence their professional actions.

This scenario, therefore, aligns with option C, indicating a potential violation of the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch. However, without additional context or a confirmation of the federal employee's specific agency rules and the nuance of the situation, there can be exceptions. The gift rule violations are significant concerns in the realm of ethics regulation, designed to prevent inappropriate influence on officials' decisions and actions by maintaining clear boundaries between personal and professional interactions.