United States Political Government Essay

Total Length: 1006 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

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Political Government

Congressional Ethics

Due to the level of trust the general public has on them, members of Congress ought to ensure that they conduct themselves in a manner that does not betray this level of trust. In the past, many members of Congress have been charged with various ethics violations. Those whose ethical inclination has been put to question include, but they are not limited to, Rep. Patrick Meehan, Rep. Ruben Kihuen, Rep. Trent Franks, and Rep. Anthony Weiner. On this front, I will concern myself with Rep. Duncan Hunter, where it was alleged that he did convert “tens of thousands of dollars of campaign funds from his congressional campaign committee to personal use to pay for family travel, flights, utilities, health care, school uniforms and tuition, jewelry, groceries, and other goods, services, and expenses” (Office of Congressional Ethics, 2018). On 31st Aug 2016, a recommendation was made by the House Office of Congressional Ethics to the effect that the allegations made against Hunter be further reviewed by the Committee on Ethics. On 23rd March 2017, the Committee on Ethics deferred the issue to the Department of Justice. This effectively means that the member of Congress is under criminal investigation for the violations highlighted herein. I support the move by the House Ethics Committee to defer its investigations into the matter for criminal investigation against Hunter.

As per the OCE report issued by the committee, as has been highlighted above, Hunter was in clear violation of several rules of the House of Representatives - more specifically with regard to the Code of Official Conduct item number 6 where it is stated that “a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner - shall keep the campaign funds of such individual separate from the personal funds of such individual… may not convert campaign funds to personal use…” (Committee on Ethics, 2018).
This clear disregard for rules and regulations effectively means that the member of Congress could be inclined to ignore other regulations of the House if an opportunity presents itself in the future. Next, the behavior of the concerned member of Congress puts to question his resolve to put public interest before personal interest. Ordinarily, elected officials are expected to act in the best interests of their constituents.

It is important to note that upon review of the matter, as per the OCE report issued by the committee, and upon extensive research of the various ethical violations that have been attributed to members of Congress in the past, my trust of the said members was negatively impacted upon. I am now more skeptical of their resolve to act in the best interests of their constituents. Elective seats should not, and must not, be viewed as pathways to personal enrichment or convenience.

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https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/united-states-political-government-2169843