SECTION ll: ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT

A. Representatives

1. It shall be a felony for an elected, appointed, or hired representative of the federal government to protect or promote corporate or political interests over those of the health and well-being of U.S. citizens and the environment.

2. An elected, appointed, or hired representative of the federal government who delays or blocks an investigation into a representative’s activities or records shall be removed from office upon completion of the investigation.

3. An elected, appointed, or hired representative of the federal government who knowingly breaks the law may be subject to lawsuits by U.S. citizens.

4. There shall be no statute of limitations for any crime committed by a person while holding a public office, whether the person is elected, appointed, or hired.

5. Corporate lobbying shall be prohibited.
   Until this is implemented, no former President or Vice President shall be allowed to work as a lobbyist or for a company that engages in lobbying, or use his special position to unduly influence legislation. No former Senator or Representative shall be allowed to work as, or for, a lobbyist or seek to influence legislation or the workings of government for a period of twelve years after leaving office.

6. Elected and appointed U.S. representatives, including the President and Vice President, shall be forbidden from accepting money or other gifts that could conceivably influence government process.

7. Any confidentiality agreement between a U.S. citizen and the government or a corporation shall become void if the contract conflicts with the health, welfare, and well-being of the public or the environment.

8. Whistleblowers shall be protected from lawsuits, criminal charges, loss of employment, and other negative consequences of their actions in disclosing government or corporate wrongdoing.

9. Any confidentiality agreement between a U.S. citizen and the government or a corporation shall be made void if the contract conflicts with the health, welfare, and well-being of the public or the environment.

10. Whistleblowers shall be protected from: losing their jobs, lawsuits, criminal charges, and other negative consequences of their actions in disclosing governmental or corporate wrong-doing.

B. Federal Agencies

1. No federal agency shall be so self-contained that its rulings cannot be outweighed by Congressional action or a vote of the American people.
 

2. The federal government and its representatives, bureaus, and agencies shall restore full transparency to their decision-making. The federal government will inform the public of the background and reasoning for regulations promulgated by its staff.

3. There shall be no “revolving door” between regulatory agencies and the industries they regulate. No federal agency shall allow present or former employees or representatives from the industry it regulates to sit on any of the agency’s committees or advisory panels.

4. Employees of any regulatory agency are prohibited from working for the regulated industry for a period of 10 years after leaving the agency.
 

5. All government contracts shall be put out for competitive bid and not be privately awarded.
 

6. The government shall not surreptitiously experiment on people for any reason, whether for medical research, to test for toxins, or to establish the vulnerability of individuals or groups. This ban includes, but is not limited to, anything that could conceivably be harmful to humans or the environment.