Article VIII

This article exists to ensure that public office is used to serve the public, not to create personal wealth or private advantage. Many Americans are concerned that elected officials and government leaders can benefit financially from their positions through conflicts of interest, insider knowledge, lobbying relationships, or opportunities unavailable to ordinary citizens. 

This article establishes constitutional safeguards to prevent federal officeholders from using public office for personal gain, both while serving and after leaving office. It also requires independent oversight, meaningful enforcement, and equal application of the rules so that government officials are held to the same standards regardless of their position, party, or influence.

Section 1 — Financial Integrity of Public Service

No federal officeholder shall obtain, seek, or receive personal financial gain, private advantage, or self-enrichment through the exercise of public authority, access to nonpublic governmental information, or the influence, powers, duties, or opportunities associated with public office.

Federal officeholders shall be subject to financial restrictions designed to prevent actual or apparent conflicts of interest and to preserve public confidence in the integrity of government.

Congress shall enact and maintain laws establishing such restrictions consistent with this Article.

Section 2 — Circumvention and Attributed Interests

No federal officeholder may evade or attempt to evade the requirements of this Article through any other person, entity, trust, intermediary, or arrangement.

Congress shall enact and maintain laws attributing to federal officeholders those financial interests and activities that create actual or apparent conflicts of interest through family members, household members, controlled entities, or other relationships reasonably capable of being used to circumvent this Article.

Section 3 — Post-Service Financial Integrity

Former federal officeholders remain subject to restrictions necessary to prevent the use of nonpublic governmental information, official influence, or opportunities acquired through public service for personal financial gain or private advantage.

Congress shall enact and maintain laws establishing such restrictions consistent with this Article.

Section 4 — Revolving Door Restrictions

Former federal officeholders may be subject to restrictions necessary to prevent the use of governmental relationships, nonpublic information, influence, authority, or opportunities acquired through public service for private gain or compensated influence activities.

Congress shall enact and maintain laws establishing such restrictions consistent with this Article.

Section 5 — Enforcement

Congress shall enact and maintain laws necessary to implement, enforce, and give full effect to this Article.

Such laws shall provide for independent oversight, investigation, adjudication, and appropriate civil and criminal penalties for violations.

Final determinations under such laws shall be subject to judicial review.

Section 6 — Equal Application

The requirements of this Article shall apply equally to all federal officeholders and shall not be waived, suspended, or selectively exempted except as necessary to implement this Article and as provided by law.