WASHINGTON, December 13, 2001 — The Center interviewed ethics agency officials, scoured ethics agency Web sites and combed through pages of state statute to conduct this survey of state ethics agencies. Below is the nationwide snapshot of answers. See how state ethics agencies compare on staff and budget, oversight and enforcement power, among other topics surveyed. Go to the methodology for an explanation of how the survey was conducted and what exact questions were asked. >>
WASHINGTON, December 13, 2001 — More than half of the nation's state legislatures have no independent oversight of elected legislators' ethical conduct, the Center has found. A survey of state ethics offices reveals that only 23 states have independent commissions that have at least minimal authority to investigate or enforce violations of ethics rules. >>