Official privilege

In 1993, a US senator proposed the mandatory disclosure of gifts (exceeding a $20 value) given to law-makers by the estimated 8,000 to 12,000 professional lobbyists in the country, as the previous 1946 US gift rule provided numerous loopholes for the collection of unreported perks.

1. Government perks often exceed the collection of small gifts, as lawmakers benefit by dodging penalty for bounced cheques and unpaid bills and by travelling and dining on taxpayer money.

1. Prohibitive labour costs
2. Accumulation of privileges

1. Violation of immunities of international civil servants
2. Political junkets
3. Non-payment of company tax
4. High severance pay for top managers
5. Abuse of privileges and immunities by diplomats

1. Unethical practices of government leaders
2. Unethical practices by employees
3. Queue-jumping
4. Monopolization by interest groups in development of community priorities
5. Abuse of power
6. Abuse of in kind payments

1. Elitist public honour systems

1. Trading in public office

1. Using fringe benefits
2. Lobbying
3. Hiding extent of lobbying largesse
4. Giving official privilege
5. Disclosing lobbying largesse
6. Acquiring goods and services free

1. Abuse
2. Nondisclosure
3. Privilege [D]