PART 1-RECOGNITION OF ATTORNEYS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVES

Sec.

1.1 Right to representation before the General Accounting Office.

1.2 Practice by attorneys.

1.3 Authority to represent in payment

cases.

1.4 Authority to represent in other cases. 1.5 Revocation of authority to represent.

AUTHORITY: Sec. 311, 42 Stat. 25, as amended; (31 U.S.C. 52).

SOURCE: 41 FR 35155, Aug. 20, 1976, unless otherwise noted.

§1.1 Right to representation before the General Accounting Office.

Each person having a claim or other rights assertable in the General Accounting Office may pursue such claim or right individually or through an attorney or other representative.

§ 1.2 Practice by attorneys.

Any person who is a member in good standing of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States or of the highest court of any State, territory, or the District of Columbia, and is not under any order of any court suspending, enjoining, restraining, disbarring, or otherwise restricting him in the practice of law, may represent others before the General Accounting Office.

§ 1.3 Authority to represent in payment

cases.

In the prosecution of claims involving payments to be made by the United States, a proper power of attorney is required before an attorney or other representative may be recognized. A power of attorney from the principal may also be requested in other cases.

§ 1.4 Authority to represent in other cases.

When an attorney acting in a representative capacity appears in person or signs a document submitted to the General Accounting Office in connection with a matter other than one involving a payment to be made by the

United States, his personal appearance or signature shall constitute a representation that he is authorized and qualified to represent the particular party in whose behalf he acts. In the case of representatives other than attorneys, a simple written declaration from the principal will be accepted as evidence of the authority of the representative to act on behalf of the principal.

§ 1.5 Revocation of authority to represent.

Prior to the conclusion of action by the General Accounting Office on a matter in which a principal is represented by another person whose authority to act is established under either § 1.3 or § 1.4, the principal may revoke the authority of his representative. Such revocation is not effective unless it is in writing and signed by the principal and until the written revocation is received by the General Accounting Office. Upon notification of the death of the principal during the pendency of any matter involving representation of the principal by an attorney or other party, the General Accounting Office will consider the representative's authority to have been automatically revoked.

6.57

6.58

Additional statements.

Additional information about the contents of statements.

6.59 Review of statements by reviewing officials.

6.60 No conflict of interest or apparent conflict of interest.

6.61 Retention and inspection of statements.

6.62 Findings of conflict of interest. 6.63 Remedial action.

6.64 Request for reconsideration of decisions.

6.65 Access to statements and documents. 6.66 Those who are not required to submit statements.

6.67 Responsibilities in connection with the submission of statements. 6.68 Personal copies of statements.

AUTHORITY: Sec. 311, 42 Stat. 25, as amended (31 U.S.C. 52, interpret to apply 18 U.S.C. 201-218).

SOURCE: 42 FR 47173, Sept. 20, 1977, unless otherwise noted.

Subpart A-Purpose and General
Information

§ 6.1 Purpose, scope, and applicability.

This part sets forth the code of ethics of the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) and the policies which prescribe standards of conduct and responsibilities for its employees and special Government employees.

§ 6.2 Forms.

This part prescribes:

(a) GAO Form 256, Request for Permission to Engage in Outside Employment.

(b) GAO Form 310, Confidential Statement of Employment and Financial Interests (For Use by Employees).

(c) GAO Form 311, Confidential Statement of Employment and Financial Interests (For Use by Special Government Employees).

(d) GAO Form 523, Certification of Review of Confidential Statement of Employment and Financial Interests for a Special Government Employee and Finding of No Conflicts of Interest.

§ 6.3 Definitions.

In this part:

(a) "Employee" means an officer or employee of GAO other than a special Government employee.

(b) "Special Government employee”

means

(1) An officer or employee who is retained, designated, appointed or employed to perform, with or without compensation, for a period not to exceed 130 days during any period of 365 consecutive days, temporary duties either on a full-time or intermittent basis (18 U.S.C. 202);

(2) An officer or employee whose intermittent appointment-described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section-is converted to a temporary appointment, thus allowing him to work for up to 1 year, beginning with the date upon which his intermittent appointment began; and

(3) Experts and consultants appointed under section 401, Pub. L. 93-604 and section 702(a), Pub. L. 99-344.

(c) "Person" means an individual, a corporation, a company, an association, a firm, a partnership, a society, a joint stock company, or any other organization or institution.

(e) Words importing the masculine gender include the feminine as well, and words importing the plural include the singular.

§ 6.4 Standards of conduct for Government service.

The Government service requires the maintenance of unusually high standards of honesty, integrity, impartiality, and conduct by employees and special Government employees, to assure the proper performance of Government business and the maintenance of confidence by citizens in their Government. This is especially true of service in GAO because of the unique functions and special trust placed upon GAO. GAO employees and special Government employees are therefore expected and required to exercise informed judgments to avoid misconduct.

§ 6.5 General policy on conduct for GAO employees.

The personal demeanor of employees of GAO is subject to the closest public and official scrutiny, and as representatives of GAO they are judged by their personal associates and activities as well as by their official actions and conduct. In all their dealings employees of GAO shall so conduct themselves as to permit no reasonable basis for suspicion of unethical conduct or practices. The obligation to protect fully the interests of the Government as a whole and GAO as an agency of the Congress, demands the avoidance of circumstances which invite conflict between self-interest and the integrity of employment with GAO. Loyalty to GAO and its programs and purposes is a necessary attribute.

§ 6.6 Proscribed actions.

An employee shall avoid any action, whether or not specifically prohibited by this part, which might result in, or create the appearance of:

(a) Using public office for private gain;

(b) Giving improper preferential treatment to any person;

(c) Impeding Government efficiency or economy;

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