Puzzles in government ethics: A cup of what is OK?

by Mark Silva

Ethics can be puzzling at times.

That's why the folks at the U.S. Office of Government Ethics have produced some crossword puzzles for government employees to test their knowlege of government ethics.

Quick, here's a tough one: "You can't use your public office for private........''

"You can't use __________ information to further your own private interest or that of another,'' one clue to the crossword puzzle on "misuse of position'' suggests. "Generally, you can't use your government title or position to _______ any product, enterprise, or service.

"Generally, you can’t use your position, title, or ___________ associated with your public office to imply that your agency sanctions your outside activities,'' it continues. "You can't use government property, including the services of __________, for unauthorized purposes.''

The crossword puzzle on gift-giving and acceptance poses these questions: "Accepting gifts too ________, even when permitted under the gift exceptions, is a bad idea'' and "When the rules do not permit you to accept a gift, you cannot tell the donor to give the gift to your _________ instead.''

And here's a real puzzler: "A cup of this is not a gift.''

Give the puzzles a try, you may have a bright career in government. Coffee, anyone?