A.1. Congressional Code of Ethics

Congress will adopt and enforce a Code of Ethics that applies to all Members and staff. The Code must prohibit bribery, financial self-dealing, abuse of power, deliberate deception, and any failure to disclose conflicts of interest. It must require public financial disclosures and recusal from official actions where a conflict exists. This Code has the force of law under this Charter and may not be waived or weakened by ordinary chamber rules.

The Code must be reviewed for updates at least every six years.

The first and most crucial task in cleaning up a corrupt system is to lay out the rules and the means of enforcement. This clause requires exactly that. Though it doesn’t micromanage the details – it leaves those to Congress – it does establish plainly worded minimum expectations. Leaving the Code to Congress doesn’t mean it is toothless; the following three clauses provide strong enforcement mechanisms. This clause also explicitly states that the Code has the force of law. In other words, if a Member violates the Code of Ethics, they have broken the law. So, not only is a violation enforceable internally, but the behavior is subject to legal action externally, as well.

The clause finishes by requiring periodic review. Though it can be reviewed more often, it must be reviewed at least once every six years. This keeps the provisions fresh and relevant to the current needs of the nation.