Jurisdiction

The Commission’s jurisdiction includes elected officials, employees and advisory board members in Miami-Dade County government and in all municipalities in the county.  Some rules and ordinances also extend to lobbyists and contract vendors.  The following are under the Ethics Commission's authority:

• The Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance - effective July 2021
• Ethics Commission enabling ordinance
• Code Highlights 
• Code Highlights en espanol
• Code Highlights in Creole/Kreyol
• The Citizen’s Bill of Rights Ordinance 13-53 Penalties
• Miami-Dade County Honor Code Implementing Order
• The Ethical Campaign Practices Ordinance, November 2013
• The Commission on Ethics Rules of Procedure, revised August 2016 
• Ethics Commission Bylaws, updated June 2019 

Mission Statement

The mission of the Ethics Commission is to ensure the integrity of both the governmental decision-making process and the electoral process, to restore public confidence in government and to serve as the guardian of the public trust.

Responsibilities

The Ethics Commission is committed to public education, training and community outreach. This responsibility is discharged in a variety of settings including training sessions and workshops for government personnel, to conferences and seminars on topics of interest in the community.

Another important area of responsibility involves advice-giving. Each year several hundred local government officials and employees seek legal opinions from the Ethics Commission to establish the standard of public duty they should exercise. All of these opinions are posted on the Ethics Commission’s website.

The third role of the agency is enforcement of rules and ordinances under the Ethics Commission jurisdiction. The Public Advocate and a team of investigators may intiate probes and prosecute cases against violators.

The Ethics Commission is composed of five members, each serving staggered terms of four years at a time.

Recieve answers to Ethics Commission Frequently Asked Questions.

The Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics ordinance establishes the minimum standard of ethical conduct and behavior for elected officials, public employees, members of county and municipal advisory boards and quasi-judicial bodies.

Links to other government agencies and organizations associated with public ethics.

In 1996, the citizens of Miami-Dade County voted to amend the Home Rule Charter to create an Ethics Commission. Subsequently, the Board of County Commissioners, through Ordinance 97-105, established the Commission on Ethics and Public Trust, an independent agency with advice-giving and quasi-judicial powers.

The Commission on Ethics & Public Trust has received several special recognitions and awards.