Board of Ethics

About the Board of Ethics

The Cook County Board of Ethics is responsible for enforcing the Cook County Ethics Ordinance. The Ethics Ordinance requires all Cook County officials and employees to abide by a Code of Conduct which sets forth general directives to ensure fair and honest government in Cook County. The Code of Conduct applies to officials, employees, persons doing or seeking to do business with the County, persons regulated by the County, and persons seeking official action by the County.

It covers the following areas: 

• Gifts and proper disclosure of gifts
• Conflicts of interest
• Improper influence
• Dual employment
• Confidential information
• County-owned property
• Campaign contributions
• Nepotism
• Post-employment restrictions
• Political activity

The Board enforces the Code of Conduct by investigating complaints of Ordinance violations and conducting related audits, issuing advisory opinions and providing other ethics advice, and designing and delivering ethics and other types of training sessions.