Ethics &
Accountability

Congressional Ethics

The Office of Congressional Ethics was established to work alongside and inform the House Committee on Ethics and the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics. It is a vital independent watchdog positioned to help curb corruption within Congress and maintain the integrity of members. Learn more about our work to protect independent accountability bodies such as the Office of Congressional Ethics.

Featured Work

Stock exchange market chart, Stock market data on LED display. Business analysis concept.

Press releases

More than 40 former members of Congress call on Senate to pass ban on congressional stock trading

In a new letter released today, more than 40 former members of Congress are calling on the Senate to pass bipartisan legislation prohibiting members and their immediate family members from…

policy

Stopping members of Congress from trading stocks

When members of Congress trade stock while in office, they abuse the public trust. Our laws need to be strengthened to correct weaknesses dealing with insider trading.

Reports

The Ethics Blind Spot

How the House and Senate ethics committees fail to foster a culture of high ethical standards in Congress...

Read the press release. In “The Ethics Blind Spot,” Issue One analyzes and contrasts the case histories of the two ethics oversight bodies in the U.S. House of Representatives—the House…

Podcast episodes

Swamp Stories Episode 9: Profiting from Public Service

“There’s no question members of Congress have access to information that the public does not have, therefore if you want transparency, if you want open hands and a clean…

Featured Press

See All

Roll Call: Former members join the chorus calling to end congressional stock trading

ReFormers Caucus letter on congressional stock trading cited; ReFormers Caucus Co-chairs Tim Roemer and Zach Wamp quoted...

Raw Story: ‘Aren’t we a little more grown up than that?’: Ex-lawmaker rips Congress for ‘dog ate my homework’ excuses

ReFormers Caucus member Brian Baird quoted...

Issue One praises bipartisan effort to ban members of Congress from trading stocks

Roll Call: Advocacy groups denounce GOP proposals to ‘gut’ ethics office

Issue One Legislative Director Elise Wirkus cited...

The Latest on Congressional Ethics

See All

Dec 01, 2023

Press releases

Members of Congress have a responsibility to uphold the highest ethical standards, ReFormers Caucus co-chairs say following Rep. Santos expulsion

In reaction to today’s bipartisan vote in the House of Representatives to expel Rep. George Santos (R-NY) from Congress in response to a thorough investigation by the House Ethics Committee,…

Nov 16, 2023

Press releases

Rep. Santos has tarnished the institution of Congress and should resign, ReFormers Caucus co-chairs say following ethics report release

Today, the House Committee on Ethics released its final report following an investigation into allegations of wrongdoing by Rep. George Santos (R-NY). The report uncovered substantial evidence of illegal activity…

Jun 28, 2023

In the media

Raw Story: ‘Aren’t we a little more grown up than that?’: Ex-lawmaker rips Congress for ‘dog ate my homework’ excuses

ReFormers Caucus member Brian Baird quoted...

Mar 03, 2023

Sign-on letters

Members of Issue One’s Bipartisan ReFormers Caucus Urge House Leadership and Ethics Committee Leadership to Conduct a Thorough Investigation into Rep. George Santos and to Codify the Office of Congressional Ethics

We as members of Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus — a bipartisan coalition made up of nearly 200 former members of Congress, governors, and Cabinet officials — urge the House Committee…

Jan 20, 2023

Sign-on letters

Issue One joins more than 25 groups in support of strengthening and codifying the Office of Congressional Ethics into law

Issue One joined more than 25 groups this week in urging Congress to strengthen and codify the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) into law. The letter opposes the recently passed…