Title 4 — Public Officers and Employees

This Chapter shall be liberally construed by the courts of Guam to promote the highest standards of ethical conduct within the government of Guam. 2021 NOTE: References to “territory” and “territorial” replaced with “Guam” pursuant to 1 GCA § 420.

This Chapter shall apply to every employee as defined herein.

When used in this Chapter, these key words shall have the indicated meaning: (a) business includes any corporation, partnership, any sole proprietorship, any trust or foundation, or any other COL 2026-05-05 individual or organization carrying on any business whether or not operat…

No employee shall solicit, accept, or receive, directly or indirectly, any gift valued singly or in the aggregate from a single source in excess of $200, whether in the form of money, prize, service, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, thing or promise, or in any other form…

(a) Every employee shall file a gifts disclosure statement with the Guam Ethics Commission on June 30 of each year if all the following conditions are met: (1) The employee, or spouse or dependent child of an employee, received directly or indirectly from any source any gift or g…

No employee shall disclose information which is considered a private document by existing law, and which the employee acquires in the course of official duties, or use the information for personal gain or for the benefit of someone else.

No employee shall use or attempt to use an official position to secure or grant unwarranted privileges, exemptions, advantages, contracts, or treatment, for himself or herself, a spouse, children, or others, including but not limited to the following: (a) seeking other employment…

(a) No employee shall take any official action directly affecting: (1) business or other undertaking in which the employee has a financial interest; or (2) private undertaking in which the employee is engaged as legal counsel, advisor, consultant, representative, or other agency …

(a) A Guam agency shall not enter into any contract with an employee or with a business in which an employee has a controlling interest, unless the contract has been awarded through an open, public process. A Guam agency may, however, enter into such contract without resort to co…

In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any contract entered into by the Guam in violation of this Chapter, is voidable by the Guam; provided that in any act to void a contract pursuant to this Section, the interests of third parties who may be damaged thereby, shall be…

(a) All financial disclosure reports required to be filed with the Guam Election Commission pursuant to Chapter 13 of Title 4, Guam Code Annotated, shall be reported to the Guam Ethics Commission within three working days of filing with the Guam Election Commission. COL 2026-05-0…

(a) All financial disclosure statements filed by an employee shall be maintained by the Guam Ethics Commission during the term of office of the employee, and for a period of three years thereafter. Upon the expiration of the three-year period, the financial disclosure statement a…

(a) No former employee shall disclose any information which by law is not available to the public and which the employee acquired in the course of official duties or use the information for personal gain or the benefit of anyone. (b) No former employee shall, within twelve (12) m…

(a) Any Guam action obtained in violation of this chapter for employees is voidable in the same manner as voidable contracts as provided for under § 15207; and Guam, by the Attorney General, may pursue all legal and equitable remedies available to it. (b) Guam, by the Attorney Ge…

(a) There shall be within the government of Guam, an autonomous and independent commission to be known as the ‘Guam Ethics Commission.’ (1) The Guam Ethics Commission (Commission) shall consist of seven (7) members to be appointed by I Maga’hågan/Maga’låhen Guåhan with the consen…

Determination. (a) The Commission shall have the following powers and duties: (1) It shall prescribe a form for the financial disclosures required by § 15208 and shall establish an orderly procedure for implementing the requirements of that Section. (2) It shall render advisory o…

(a) Any person who knowingly and intentionally files a false charge with the commission, or any member of the commission who initiates action against any Guam official, Guam employee, or any other person covered by this chapter, knowing such charge to be false, shall be guilty of…

(a) When the Commission, after due hearings, believes that there is cause for the possible filing of criminal charges, it shall refer the complaint to the Attorney General’s Office or appropriate authority for its disposition. COL 2026-05-05 (b) With respect to former employees, …

In addition to any other powers the Civil Service Commission or other government agency may have to discipline employees, the appropriate agency involved may reprimand, put on probation, demote, suspend, or discharge any employee found to have violated this Chapter. COL 2026-05-0…

The Guam Ethics Commission may request and shall receive from every governmental agency cooperation and assistance in the performance of its duties.

In addition to any provision contained in this Chapter, the Legislature and the Judicial Branch may each prescribe further rules of conduct covering its members and may investigate and discipline its employees for any violation of this Chapter, or its own Rules, or both.

Staff. (a) The Guam Ethics Commission may employ such persons as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions. It shall submit an annual budget request to the Legislature for its required operations. (1) The Executive Director shall submit an annual fiscal year budget …

Members of the ethics commission and its staff shall not take an active part in political management or in political campaigns during the term of office or employment.

(a) Any person who is an elected official of the government of Guam shall attend an ethics in government program within ninety (90) days of taking office. Additionally, elected officials shall undergo refresher ethics in government program at least once every four (4) years. The …

The ethics in government program shall be provided by the Guam Ethics Commission or other providers approved by the Guam Ethics Commission. The Public Auditor shall develop standards for the ethics program until the Guam Ethics Commission is appointed and functioning, at which ti…

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction and governance over all justices and judges of the COL 2026-05-05 judicial branch in matters of ethics as covered in this Chapter 15. SOURCE: P.L. 28-076:4 (Nov. 25, 2005), effective Jan. 1, 2007.

Those portions of the Guam Code Annotated and the Government Code of Guam, which are in conflict with any section of this Chapter, are hereby repealed. SOURCE: Added by P.L. 28-076:5 (Nov. 25, 2005), effective Jan. 1, 2007.

If any part of this Chapter 15 shall, for any reason, be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, or invalid as applied to a class of cases, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof, and shall be confined in its operation to …