39 C.F.R. Subpart B—Ex Parte Communications
Title 39 - Postal Service
Decision-making Commission personnel, as defined in §3001.7(a), shall not, either in an official or unofficial capacity, participate in any ex parte communication—either oral or written—with any person regarding (1) a particular matter (substantive or procedural) at issue in contested proceedings before the Commission or (2) the substantive merits of a matter that is likely to become a particular matter at issue in contested proceedings before the Commission. A particular matter is at issue in contested proceedings before the Commission when it is a subject of controversy in a hearing held under 39 U.S.C. 3624 or 3661(c). However, this section does not prohibit participation in off-the-record proceedings conducted under regulations adopted by the Commission for hearings held under 39 U.S.C. 3624 or 3661(c). [45 FR 65581, Oct. 3, 1980] As ex parte communications (either oral or written) may occur inadvertently notwithstanding §3000.735–501, the employee who receives such a communication, shall—within 2 workdays after the receipt of such a communication—prepare a written report concerning the communication. The report shall identify the employee and the person or persons who participated in the ex parte communication; the circumstances which resulted in the communication; the substance of the communication; and the relationship of the communication to a particular matter at issue or likely to become at issue in contested proceedings before the Commission. When the ex parte communication concerns a particular matter at issue in a proceeding before the Commission, a copy of the report shall be submitted to each party to the proceeding. The report is a public record of the Commission and a copy thereof shall be available to any member of the public on request. This section does not apply to ex parte communications under paragraph 3000.735–501(b). [36 FR 5412, Mar. 23, 1971, as amended at 38 FR 24899, Sept. 11, 1973] Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the following Code of Ethics should be adhered to by all Government employees, including office-holders: code of ethics for government service Any person in Government service should: 1. Put loyalty to the highest moral principles and to country above loyalty to persons, party, or Government department. 2. Uphold the Constitution, laws, and legal regulations of the United States and of all governments therein and never be a party to their evasion. 3. Give a full day's labor for a full day's pay; giving to the performance of his duties his earnest effort and best thought. 4. Seek to find and employ more efficient and economical ways of getting tasks accomplished. 5. Never discriminate unfairly by the dispensing of special favors or privileges to anyone, whether for remuneration or not; and never accept, for himself or his family, favors or benefits under circumstances which might be construed by reasonable persons as influencing the performance of his governmental duties. 6. Make no private promises of any kind binding upon the duties of office, since a Government employee has no private word which can be binding on public duty. 7. Engage in no business with the Government, either directly or indirectly, which is inconsistent with the conscientious performance of his governmental duties. 8. Never use any information coming to him confidentially in the performance of governmental duties as a means for making private profit. 9. Expose corruption wherever discovered. 10. Uphold these principles, ever conscious that public office is a public trust. Passed July 11, 1958.
Title 39: Postal Service
PART 3000—STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
Subpart B—Ex Parte Communications
§ 3000.735-501 Ex parte communications prohibited.
§ 3000.735-502 Public record of ex parte communications.
Appendix A to Part 3000—Code of Ethics For Government Service
