Questions / Presidents and officials
Presidents and officials: questions answered
The President's official actions, such as executive orders and proclamations, are published in the Federal Register. Financial interests of senior officials are reported on public forms under the Ethics in Government Act: OGE Form 278e for the annual report and OGE Form 278-T for securities transactions in the executive branch.
The articles below explain what those documents are, who files them and where the public can find them.
Last reviewed .
What is a blind trust, and how does a qualified trust work?
A qualified blind trust is a trust certified by the Director of the Office of Government Ethics, run by an independent trustee under a model trust document, so the official does not control or know what it buys and sells. The Ethics in Government Act creates two kinds, blind and diversified. The rules read here apply to the executive branch.
What are executive orders and proclamations?
Executive orders are numbered documents through which the President manages the operations of the federal government; proclamations are another kind of presidential document. After the President signs one, the White House sends it to the Office of the Federal Register, which publishes it in the daily Federal Register, usually a few days after signing.
What are OGE Form 278e and OGE Form 278-T?
OGE Form 278e is the public financial disclosure report that senior executive-branch officials, nominees and presidential candidates file. OGE Form 278-T is the supplemental periodic transaction report for securities purchases, sales and exchanges above $1,000, due within 30 days of notice and no later than 45 days after the transaction.
Which officials must file financial disclosure reports?
Title I of the Ethics in Government Act requires public financial disclosure reports from the President, the Vice President, Members of Congress, senior executive-branch officials, certain congressional employees, Senate-confirmed nominees and candidates for President, Vice President and Congress. Incumbents file annually by 15 May; new officials and nominees have shorter deadlines.
Pillar guides
The guides at /learn go through one real filing line by line.
All questions · A qualified blind trust is a trust certified by the Director of the Office of Government Ethics, run by an independent trustee under a model trust document, so the official does not control or know what it buys and sells.
This explains public filings in plain words. It is not legal or investment advice. Corrections: contact page.