Law & Advice

Federal Law

• Federal Election Commission (FEC)

State Law

• Political Reform Act

Local Law

Government Codes

• San Francisco Charter (Links to the City Municode service)
• San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code (Links to the City Municode service)

Campaign Finance

• Campaign Finance Reform Ordinance (Amendments operative January 1, 2010)
• Campaign Finance Reform Ordinance Regulations (Operative February 15, 2010)

Conflict of Interest

• Conflict of Interest Laws (Revised 10/25/09)
• Conflict of Interest Regulations (Revised 9/14/08)
• San Francisco Charter Provisions Relating the Governmental Ethics and the Ethics Commission (Revised 7/04)
• Manual on Governmental Ethics Laws: A Guide to State and Local Laws Governing the Conduct of Public Officials and Employees (Updated February 15, 2010)
• Conflict of Interest Code: Financial Interests Campaign & Gov't Conduct Code, Sections 3.1-100 - 3.1-500
• Permit Application Processing Section 3.400
• Permit Processing Code of Conduct
• Statements of Incompatible Activities (SIAs)
• Summary of Gifts Rules - January 2010

Complaints & Whistleblowing

• San Francisco Charter, Appendix C, Section C3.699-13
• Reporting Improper Government Activity: Protection of Whistleblowers (Campaign & Gov't Conduct Code, Article IV, Chapter 1, § 4.100, et seq.)
• Regulations for Investigations and Enforcement Proceedings (amended January 8, 2010)

Campaign Consultants

• Campaign Consultant Ordinance (Campaign & Gov't Conduct Code, Article I, Chapter 5 § 1.500, et seq.) (Note:  Lobbying by campaign consultants and their employees is governed by the Lobbying Ordinance)
• Campaign Consultant Ordinance Regulation

Lobbyists

• Lobbyist Ordinance (2009 amendments) (amendments effective in 2010) (Campaign and Gov't Conduct Code, Article II, Chapter 1, § 2.100, et seq.)
• Lobbyist Ordinance Regulation (Operative February 15, 2010)
• Lobbyists on Behalf of the City (regulated by the Sunshine Ordinance) (SF Administrative Code, Chapter 67, §67.1, et seq.)

Public Access

• Sunshine Ordinance (SF Administrative Code, Chapter 67)
• Sunshine Ordinance Regulation 67.33 - 1 (amendments effective March 13, 2009)

Advice

The Ethics Commission provides two kinds of advice: written formal opinions and informal advice. S.F. Charter § C3.699-12. Written formal opinions are available to individuals who request advice about their responsibilities under local law. Formal opinions provide the requester immunity from subsequent enforcement action if the material facts are as stated in the request for advice, and if the District Attorney and City Attorney concur in the advice. See id. Informal advice does not provide similar protection. See id.

Past advice letters are available on-line in the Commission's advice letters archive .