Ethics Commissions: Ethics Complaints Overview
State Ethics Commissions
Ethics Complaints & Advisory Opinions
|
Return to Ethics Oversight homepage
State ethics commissions enforce ethics laws for specific groups under their jurisdiction. They possess two important powers: investigating ethics complaints and issuing advisory opinions.
Ethics Complaints
Investigations of ethics violations often begin when a complaint, alleging that a violation has occurred, is filed with the state ethics commission. Each commission handles ethics complaints in its own way. Most commissions make complaint forms available online, although only a few commissions allow forms to be filed online. Who can initiate a complaint also varies by state. Some commissions require commissioners to recuse themselves from the investigation or hearings related to the case, if they were the ones to file the complaint. Ethics commissions generally publish complaints, although when a complaint is made public and what information is published depends on the commission. Many commissions have the authority to dismiss complaints, especially if they determine them to be frivolous.
Although the majority of ethics commissions are authorized to investigate ethics complaints, not all may prosecute complaints or levy sanctions if ethics violations are found. In these cases, findings of violations are generally sent to another authority, such as the state attorney general and inspector general.
Advisory Opinions
Ethics commissions also provide counsel to individuals under their jurisdiction by issuing advisory opinions based on real or hypothetical situations. This system helps legislators, lobbyists and others to understand and comply with the laws. In many states, an advisory opinion may constitute a defense against charges of an ethics violation, if the advisory opinion is not amended or revoked. The opinion also may serve as a defense against allegations of criminal action. Most ethics commissions make advisory opinions public.
Ethics Complaint Forms
Updated April 2011
This data is based on a survey by the Center for Ethics in Government.
Thirty five state ethics commissions make complaint forms available on their websites. Fourteen ethics commissions do not provide complaint forms online. Some commissions that do not offer complaint forms online, do provide instructions on proper complaint submission procedure.
The majority of ethics commissions require complaint forms to be delivered by mail or in person; these 37 commission do not have a process for online-filing of complaints. Thirteen commissions - Alabama, both commissions in Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Wisconsin, both commissions in Indiana, the New York State Commission on Public Integrity, the Washington Public Disclosure Commission, and the Washington Executive Ethics Commission - accept online submission of complaints. Thirty two state ethics commissions make complaint forms available on their websites. Thirteen ethics commissions do not provide complaint forms online. Some commissions that do not offer complaint forms online, do provide instructions on proper complaint submission procedure.
Ethics Complaint Forms: Are Forms Available Online? Can Forms be Filed Online?
| Commission |
Is the Complaint Form Available Online? |
Can The Complaint Form Be Filed Online? |
|
Alabama Ethics Commission
|
Yes |
Yes |
| Alaska Legislative Ethics Committee |
Yes |
No |
| Alaska Public Offices Commission |
Yes |
No |
| Arizona |
No ethics commission |
|
| Arkansas Ethics Commission |
No |
No |
|
California Fair Political Practices Commission
|
Yes |
No |
|
Colorado Independent Ethics Commission
|
Yes |
No, however
individuals may file by email if they
submit a pdf with a signature.
|
|
Connecticut Office of State Ethics
|
Yes |
No |
|
Delaware State Public Integrity Commission
|
No |
No |
|
Florida Commission on Ethics
|
Yes |
No |
|
Georgia State Ethics Commission
|
Yes |
No |
|
Hawaii State Ethics Commission
|
No |
No |
|
Idaho
|
No ethics commission |
|
|
Illinois Office of the Legislative Inspector General
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
Illinois Executive Ethics Commission
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
Indiana Lobby Registration Commission
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
Office of the Indiana Inspector General and Indiana State Ethics Commission
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board
|
Yes |
No |
|
Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission
|
No |
No |
|
Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission
|
Yes |
No |
|
Kentucky Executive Branch Ethics Commission
|
No |
No |
|
Louisiana Board of Ethics
|
No |
No |
|
Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices
|
Yes |
No |
|
Maryland State Ethics Commission
|
No |
No |
|
Massachusetts State Ethics Commission
|
Yes |
Yes** |
|
Michigan State Board of Ethics
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board
|
Yes |
No |
|
Mississippi Ethics Commission
|
Yes |
No |
|
Missouri Ethics Commission
|
Yes |
No |
|
Montana Commissioner of Political Practices
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission
|
No |
No |
|
Nevada Commission on Ethics
|
Yes |
No |
|
New Hampshire
|
No ethics commission |
|
|
New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission
|
No |
No |
|
New Jersey State Ethics Commission
|
No |
Yes |
|
New Mexico
|
No ethics commission |
|
|
New York State Commission on Public Integrity
|
No*** |
Yes |
|
New York State Legislative Ethics Commission
|
No*** |
No |
|
North Carolina State Ethics Commission
|
Yes |
No |
|
North Dakota
|
No ethics commission |
|
|
Ohio Ethics Commission
|
Yes |
No |
|
Oklahoma Ethics Commission
|
Yes |
No |
|
Oregon Government Ethics Commission
|
Yes |
No |
|
Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission
|
Yes |
No |
|
Rhode Island Ethics Commission
|
No |
No |
|
South Carolina Ethics Commission
|
Yes |
No |
|
South Dakota
|
No ethics commission |
|
|
Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance
|
Yes |
No |
|
Texas Ethics Commission
|
Yes |
No |
|
Utah Independent Ethics Commission
|
No |
No |
|
Vermont
|
No ethics commission |
|
|
Virginia
|
No ethics commission |
|
|
Washington State Legislative Ethics Board
|
Yes |
No |
|
Washington Public Disclosure Board
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
Washington Executive Ethics Board
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
West Virginia Ethics Commission
|
Yes |
No |
|
Wisconsin Government Accountability Board
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
Wyoming
|
No ethics commission |
|
|
Totals
|
35-Yes; 14-No |
13-Yes; 37-No |
** A complaint may be filed by telephone, via mail or email. Anonymous complaints cannot be filed online.
*** There is no specific form, however instructions are available online.
|