(a) An employee shall not engage in outside employment or other outside activity not compatible with the full and proper discharge of the duties and responsibilities of his Government employment. Incompatible activities include but are not limited to:

(1) Acceptance of a fee, compensation, gift, payment of expense, or any other thing of monetary value in circumstances in which acceptance may result in, or create the appearance of, conflicts of interest; or

(2) Outside employment which tends to impair his mental or physical capacity to perform his Government duties and responsibilities in an acceptable manner.

(b) An employee shall not receive any salary or anything of monetary value from a private source as compensation for his services to the Government (18 U.S.C. 209).

(c) Employees are encouraged to engage in teaching, lecturing, and writting that is not prohibited by law, the Executive order, this part, or the agency regulations. However, an employee shall not, either for or without compensation, engage in teaching, lecturing, or writing, including teaching, lecturing, or writing for the purpose of the special preparation of a person or class of persons for an examination of the Civil Service Commission or Board of Examiners for the Foreign Service, that is dependent on information obtained as a result of his Government employment, except when that information has been made available to the general public or will be made available on request or when the agency head gives written authorization for use of nonpublic information on the basis that the use is in the public interest. In addition, an employee who is a Presidential appointee covered by section 401(a) of the Executive order shall not receive compensation or anything of monetary value for any consultation, lecture, discussion, writing, or appearance the subject matter of which is devoted substantially to the responsibilities, programs, or operations of his agency, or which draws substantially on official data or ideas which have not become part of the body of public information. Em

ployees are referred to the detailed rules of their agency with respect to clearance and acceptance of compensation (3 FAM 628 and for AID see M.O. 831.2).

(d) [Reserved]

(e) An employee shall not render any services, whether or not compensated, to any foreign government, state, province, or semigovernmental agency, or municipality of any foreign government, or to any international organization of states. However, this shall not prevent the rendering of such services by employees acting on behalf of the United States. Nor shall this provision prevent the rendering of services to an international organization of states when otherwise consistent with law and when authorized by the appropriate officer. The appropriate officer for State is the Director General, for USIA the Assistant Director (Personnel and Training), and for AID the Assistant Administrator for Administration.

(f) An employee shall not engage in any teaching or related activities directed toward the special preparation of individuals for examinations of the U.S. Civil Service Commission or the Foreign Service (Executive Order 9367).

(g) This section does not preclude an employee from:

(1) Participation in the activities of national or State political parties not proscribed by law.

(2) Participation in the affairs of or acceptance of an award for a meritorious public contribution or achievement given by a charitable, religious, professional, social, fraternal, nonprofit educational and recreational, public service, or civic organization. § 10.735-205

Financial interests.

(a) An employee shall not:

(1) Have a direct or indirect financial interest that conflicts substantially, or appears to conflict substantially with his Government duties and responsibilities;

or

(2) Engage in, directly or indirectly, a financial transaction as a result of, or primarily relying on, information obtained through his Government employment.

(b) This section does not preclude an employee from having a financial interest or engaging in financial transactions to the same extent as a private citizen not employed by the Government so long as it is not prohibited by law or the regulations in this part.

§ 10.735-206

Economic and financial activities of employees abroad.

(a) Prohibitions in any foreign country. A U.S. citizen employee abroad is specifically prohibited from engaging in the activities listed below in any foreign country.

(1) Speculation in currency exchange.

(2) Transactions at exchange rates differing from local legally available rates, unless such transactions are duly authorized in advance by the agency.

(3) Sales to unauthorized persons (whether at cost or for profit) of currency acquired at preferential rates through diplomatic or other restricted arrangements.

(4) Transactions which entail the use, without official sanction, of the diplomatic pouch.

(5) Transfers of funds on behalf of blocked nationals, or otherwise in violation of U.S. foreign funds and assets control.

(6) Independent and unsanctioned private transactions which involve an employee as an individual in violation of applicable control regulations of foreign governments.

(7) Acting as an intermediary in the transfer of private funds from persons in one country to persons in another country, including the United States.

(8) Permitting use of one's official title in any private business transactions or in advertisements for business purposes.

(b) Prohibitions in country of assignment. (1) A U.S. citizen employee shall not transact or be interested in any business or engage for profit in any profession or undertake other gainful employment in any country or countries to which he is assigned or detailed in his own name or through the agency of any other person; exceptions may be made with respect to chiefs of mission only in writing by the Deputy Under Secretary for Administration, and for all other State employees by the appropriate chief of mission; for USIA employees by the Assistant Director (Personnel and Training); and for AID employees by the assistant administrator of the regional bureau or head of the nonregional organization, as appropriate, or their designees (see 22 U.S.C. 805).

(2) A U.S. citizen employee shall not invest in real estate or mortgages on properties located in his country of assignment. The purchase of a house and land for personal occupancy is not considered a violation of this subparagraph.

(3) A U.S. citizen employee shall not invest money in bonds, shares or stocks of commercial concerns headquartered in his country of assignment or conducting a substantial portion of their business in such country. Such investments, if made prior to knowledge of assignment or detail to such country or countries. may be retained during such assignment or detail when approved in writing by the appropriate official named in subparagraph (1) of this paragraph. If retention is authorized, such stocks, shares, or bonds may not be sold while the employee is assigned or detailed to the country or countries, unless the agency approved the sale in writing.

(4) A U.S. citizen employee shall not sell or dispose of personal property, including automobiles, at prices producing profits to him which result primarily from import privileges derived from his official status as an employee of the U.S. Government. Employees are referred to FAMC 378; for AID see M.O. 443.5.

(c) Acceptance of employment by members of family abroad. Members of a U.S. citizen employee's family may not transact or be interested in any business or engage in gainful employment in the country to which the employee is assigned without express approval of the chief of an ageny's establishment.

(1) Employment of such family members by the agency itself is governed by the regulations of the agency concerned.

(2) The chief of any agency's establishment may authorize employment of such family members in another U.S. Government agency.

(3) With the authorization of the chief of the agency's establishment, such family member may, for example:

(i) Teach or be employed in schools, hospitals, or similar establishments.

(ii) Teach or be employed in Binational Centers.

(iii) Work in cooperative commissaries.

(iv) As dependent children, maintain paper routes or perform other casual part-time duties.

(v) Accept employment which supports overall U.S. objectives by favorably reflecting educational, cultural, and professional accomplishments of U.S. citizens.

In considering requests for permission for members of a family to accept employment abroad, the authorizing officer shall follow generally consistent policies approved by the Ambassador and should

consider: The propriety of employment with institutions supported directly by the local government; any adverse effects on relations between the United States and the host government; possible violation of local custom; possible violation of conflict of interest regulations; competition with the local labor market that might result from such employment; possible conflict with the representational activities of a member of the family of an officer with representational responsibilities; and possible adverse effects on the special status of the employee and his family as official representatives of the United States. It should also be borne in mind that persons accepting employment abroad may not enjoy immunity from judicial process and that they would be subject to the payment of any taxes deriving from their nondiplomatic employment.

(d) Business activities of non-U.S. citizen employees. A non-U.S. citizen employee abroad may engage in outside business activities with the prior approval of the head of the overseas establishment on the basis of the standards expressed in § 10.735-204(a).

An employee shall not directly or indirectly use, or allow the use of Government property of any kind, including property leased to the Government, for other than officially approved activities. An employee has a positive duty to protect and conserve Government property, including equipment, supplies, and other property entrusted or issued to him. § 10.735-208. Misuse of information.

For the purpose of furthering a private interest, an employee shall not, except as provided in § 10.735-204 (c) directly or indirectly use, or allow the use of, official information obtained through or in connection with his Government employment which has not been made available to the general public.

under circumstances, reflect adversely on the Government as his employer. In the event of dispute between an employee and an alleged creditor, this section does not require an agency to determine the validity or amount of the disputed debt. § 10.735-210 Gambling, betting, and lotteries.

An employee shall not participate, while on Government-owned or leased property or while on duty for the Government, in any gambling activity including the operation of a gambling device, in conducting a lottery or pool, in a game for money or property, or in selling or purchasing a numbers slip or ticket. However, this section does not preclude activities:

(a) Necessitated by an employee's law enforcement duties; or

(b) Under section 3 of Executive Order 10927 and similar agency-approved activities.

§ 10.735-211

Activities relating to pri

vate organizations and politics.

(a) Definition. For the purpose of this section, the term "private organization" denotes any group of persons or associations organized for any purpose whatever, except an organization established by the Government of the United States, or officially participated in by State, USIA, or AID.

(b) Participation in activities of employee organizations. An employee may join or refrain from joining employee organizations or associations without interference, coercion, restraint, or fear of discrimination or reprisal.

(c) Participation in activities of private organizations. In participating in the program and activities of any private organization, an employee shall make clear that his agency has no official connection with such organization and does not necessarily sponsor or sanction the viewpoints which it may express.

(d) Legal restrictions on membership in certain organizations. (1) An employee shall not have membership in any organization of Government employees that asserts the right to strike against the Government of the United States or the agency, knowing that such organization asserts such right (5 U.S.C. 7311, 18 U.S.C. 1918).

(2) An employee shall not have membership in any organization that advocates the overthrow of our constitutional form of Government in the United

States, knowing that such organization so advocates (5 U.S.C. 7311, 18 U.S.C. 1918).

(e) Private organizations concerned with foreign policy or other matters of concern to agencies-(1) Limitation on participation. When a private organization is concerned primarily with foreign policy or international relations or other matters of concern to an employee's agency, an employee shall limit his connection therewith as follows: Unless specifically permitted to do so, he may not serve as advisor, officer, director, teacher, sponsor, committee chairman, or in any other official capacity or permit his name to be used on a letterhead, in a publication, in an announcement or news story, or at a public meetings, regardless of whether his official title or connection is mentioned. The provisions of this section are not intended to prohibit the normal and active participation of an employee in professional organizations such as the American Political Science Association, the American Economic Association, the American Foreign Service Association, and similar organizations, since such participation is in the interest of both the employee and the Government. Employees are expected, however, to exercise discretion in such activities and are held personally accountable for any improper use of their relationship with State, USIA, and AID.

(2) Request for special permission. Special permission to assume or continue a connection prohibited by subparagraph (1) of this paragraph may be granted in cases where the public interest will not be adversely affected. To request such permission, or to determine whether the provisions are applicable to a particular case, the employee shall address a memorandum setting forth all of the circumstances to the appropriate officer. The appropriate officer is for State the Director General; for USIA the Assistant Director (Personnel and Training); and for AID the Senior Personnel Officer under whose jurisdiction the employee

serves.

(3) Application to senior officers. Because of the prominence resulting from their official positions, chiefs of mission and other senior officers should recognize the particular bearing of the provisions of subparagraph (1) of this paragraph upon their activities. They should restrict association with any organizations involving foreign nations and the United States to simple membership and should

not accept even honorary office in such organizations except with the specific prior approval as provided in subparagraph (2) of this paragraph.

(f) Private organizations not concerned with foreign policy. When the purpose and program of the organization do not fall primarily within the field of foreign policy or international relations, the employee's activity is limited only to the following extent:

(1) His official title or connection may be used to identify him, as in a civic association election, but may not be used on a letterhead, in a publication, or otherwise so as to employ the prestige of the U.S. Government to enhance that of the organization or to imply official sponsorship.

(2) When he is a representative of an association consisting of State, USIA, or AID employees, or of a group of such employees, his connection with his agency may be freely used so long as there is no implication of official sponsorship beyond that which may have been officially approved.

(g) Political activities abroad. A U.S. citizen employee shall not engage in any form of political activity in any foreign country.

(h) Activities relating to U.S. politics. The law (5 U.S.C. 7324, formerly the Hatch Act) provides in summary that it is unlawful for any Federal employee of the executive branch to use his official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with an election or affecting the result thereof, or to take any active part in political management or in political campaigns. These restrictions do not in any way affect the right of a Federal employee (1) to vote as he chooses; (2) to express personal political opinions, except as part of a campaign; (3) to make or refrain from making contributions to political organizations, provided contributions are not made in a Federal building or to another Federal officer or employee (see 18 U.S.C. 602, 603, 607, and 608); (4) to participate in local, nonpartisan activities.

§ 10.735-212 Wearing of uniforms.

(a) An employee of the Foreign Service may not wear any uniform except as may be authorized by law or as a military commander may require civilians to wear in a theater of military operations (22 U.S.C. 803). When an employee is authorized by law or required by a military commander of the United States to wear

a uniform, care shall be taken that the uniform is worn only at authorized times and for authorized purposes.

(b) Conventional attire worn by chauffeurs, elevator operators, and other miscellaneous employees are not considered uniforms within the meaning of this section except that, for USIA, MOA VII 917.2b prohibits the purchase from Agency funds of uniforms or any item of personal wearing apparel other than special protective clothing. § 10.735-213 ployment.

Recommendations for em

(a) Making recommendations in official capacity. In general, an employee shall not, in his official capacity, make any recommendations in connection with the employment of persons unless the positions concerned are with the Government of the United States and the recommendations are made in response to an inquiry from a Government official authorized to employ persons or to investigate applicants for employment. A principal officer in answer to a letter of inquiry from outside the U.S. Government concerning a former employee assigned to the post, may state the length of time the person was employed at the post and the fact that he performed his duties in a satisfactory manner, if such is the case. Also, an AID Mission Director may provide names of persons or firms from which a cooperating government may select an employee or firm to be used in some phase of the AID program.

(b) Making personal recommendations. An employee may make a personal recommendation in connection with the employment of any person, except for employment in a position of trust or profit under the government of the country to which the employee is accredited or assigned (22 U.S.C. 806(b)); Provided, That the employee does not divulge any information concerning the person derived from official sources. When a letter of introduction or recommendation is written by an employee, precautionary measures should be taken to prevent its being construed as official correspondence and used by an unscrupulous individual to impress American or foreign officials. Accordingly, official stationery should not be used for this purpose. The letter may, however, show the recommending employee's status as an employee of the U.S. Government. Every personal letter of recommendation shall

contain a statement clearly indicating that the letter constitutes a personal recommendation and is not to be construed as an official recommendation by the Government of the United States. § 10.735-214 Transmitting communications and gifts.

(a) Correspondence. In corresponding with anyone other than the proper official of the United States with regard to the public affairs of a foreign government, an employee shall use discretion and judgment to ensure that neither the United States nor the employee will be embarrassed or placed in a compromising position (22 U.S.C. 806(a)).

(b) Communications. An employee shall not act as an agent for the transmission of communications from private persons or organizations in foreign countries to the President or to Federal, State, or municipal officials in the United States. A chief of mission may, however, accept communications of this nature and forward them to the Department of State for such further action as may be appropriate, whenever he determines it to be clearly in the public interest to do so.

(c) Gifts. An employee shall not act as an agent for the transmission of gifts from persons or organizations in foreign countries to the President or to Federal, State, or municipal officials in the United States. However, principal officers may, according to regulations prescribed by the President, accept, and forward to the Office of Protocol of the Department of State, gifts made to the United States or to any political subdivision thereof by the Government to which they are accredited or from which they hold exequaturs. Employees shall not, without the approval of the Secretary of State, transmit gifts from persons or organizations in the United States to heads or other officials of foreign states.

§ 10.735-215 General conduct prejudicial to the Government.

(a) An employee shall not engage in criminal, infamous, dishonest, immoral, or notoriously disgraceful conduct, or other conduct prejudicial to the Government.

(b) An employee abroad is also obligated to obey the laws of the country in which he is present.

(c) An employee shall observe the requirements of courtesy, consideration, and promptness in dealing with or serving the public.