[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 3, Chapters 10 - 14]
[Chapter 12. Conduct or Discipline of Members, Officers, or Employees]
[A. Introductory; Particular Kinds of Misconduct]
[Â§ 11. Acceptance of Foreign Gifts and Awards]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 1719]
 
                               CHAPTER 12
 
        Conduct or Discipline of Members, Officers, or Employees
 
            A. INTRODUCTORY; PARTICULAR KINDS OF MISCONDUCT
 
Sec. 11. Acceptance of Foreign Gifts and Awards

    The Constitution prohibits any person holding federal office from 
accepting a gift from a foreign state without the consent of the 
Congress.(17) However, Congress has provided by statute for 
employees of the federal government to accept or retain such a gift if 
of minimal value.(18) In addition, an employee may accept a 
gift of more than minimal value when refusal would cause offense or 
embarrassment to the foreign relations of the United States; in that 
case, the gift is deemed to be property of the United States and not of 
the donee.(19)
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17. U.S. Const. art. I, Sec. 9, clause 8.
18. 5 USC Sec. 7342(c)(1). See also Sec. 515 of Pub. L. No. 95-105 for 
        revision of this statute. The Select Committee on Ethics [See 
        Cong. Rec. (daily ed.), 95th Cong. 1st Sess., May 18, 1977] and 
        the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct have promulgated 
        regulations and advisory opinions applicable to the acceptance 
        of foreign gifts and decorations.
19. 5 USC Sec. 7342(c)(2). ``Employee'' is defined for the purpose of 
        this section to include a Member of Congress and members of his 
        family and household [5 USC  7342(a)(1) (E) and (F)].
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