financial disclosure statements

Politicians holding elected office often must file financial disclosure statements detailing their personal finances and business interests. These include information about their sources of income, investments they have, property they own, businesses in which they have a position or interest, and gifts and honorariums they have received.

The disclosures are required to avoid conflicts of interest by public office holders and so the public can determine if a politician's personal financial interests might be affecting his or her actions as a public official.

Similar disclosure forms are required by non-elected government officials holding top administrative positions on a federal, state and local level.

Federal

On a federal level, these financial disclosure forms are required for members of the U.S. Congress and the president, as well as for members of a presidential cabinet.

State

Many states similarly require that state or local elected officials file financial disclosure statements.

California

In California these forms are called statements of economic interests and are required for anyone running for or holding either a state elected office or a local office such as a city council, school board or board of supervisors.

In California many non-elected local public officials, such as a city manager, county adminstrator or department head (police chiefs, redevelopment agency directors, etc.) also must file these statements.