How the New Ethics Board was Established

In December 2005, the City passed legislation that would establish a new, independent Board of Ethics, subject to voter approval of an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter. On May 16, 2006, Philadelphia voters overwhelmingly approved that amendment to the Charter. The Mayor appoints the five members of the new Board of Ethics, with the advice and consent of City Council.
On October 19, 2006, former Mayor John F. Street nominated five candidates to the new Ethics Board. City Council’s Committee of the Whole held a confirmation hearing on November 14, 2006, and unanimously confirmed the nominees on November 16, 2006.

Ethics Reform Advances in Philadelphia

The new Ethics Board has investigative and enforcement powers and jurisdiction over all of city government, which works to assure that all city officials and workers are held accountable to the same high standards. To ensure that everyone knows where the boundaries of acceptable conduct are, the Board is responsible for providing guidance and education on the ethics rules to the entire city workforce as well as to city vendors.

The new Ethics Board promotes greater transparency in government by overseeing financial disclosures by city officials and by publishing campaign finance disclosures by elected officials and candidates. Provisions that permit removal of Board members only for cause and that protect the new Board’s budget from cuts assure its independence.

The new Ethics Board held its first meeting on Monday, November 27, 2006 in the Kirby Auditorium in the National Constitution Center. The meeting was open to the public. Since this first meeting, substantial progress has been made in reaching the Board’s objectives. To learn more, please visit the Press section.