You Are In: USINFO > Products > Webchats

Democracy Dialogues: Anti-Corruption Mechanisms within the U.S. Federal Government

Photo courtesy of Jane Ley

Jane Ley Date: Thursday, 18 January 2007 Time: 9:00 a.m. EST (1400 GMT) View Webchat Transcript

Governments are responsible for doing all in their power to prevent corruption within their own ranks and, when necessary, for taking legal action against officials who betray the public's trust. The United States has developed an array of laws, regulations and internal mechanisms to combat corruption within the federal government, some of which are specific to an individual branch (executive, legislative or judicial). Recent scandals implicating both elected and appointed officials have demonstrated, however, that legal and institutional safeguards have not entirely eliminated corruption within the U.S. federal government. Please join Jane Ley for a discussion of anti-corruption mechanisms that exist within the U.S. government, and their possible applications in other countries.

Guest Biography: Jane Ley is the deputy director of the Office of International Assistance and Government Initiatives at the United States Office of Government Ethics (OGE). She joined OGE as a staff attorney in 1978, when the agency was first created by Congress, and then served as its deputy general counsel from 1989 to 1996. In her current capacity, Ley has primary responsibility for providing technical assistance to foreign governments and entities in programs designed to address and prevent corruption. She is also responsible for OGE's legislative program, which requires her to work closely with the White House, the U.S. Department of Justice and Congress. Prior to joining OGE, Ley served as the associate director of the Hawaii State Ethics Commission. She received a law degree from George Washington University, and an undergraduate degree from Kansas State University.