1. The Pacific Council maintains financial transparency. The Council discloses all sources of funding and all donations.

2. The Pacific Council retains editorial control of events and content. The Council determines who speaks at both in-person and virtual events, what gets published, and what topics are covered.

3. The Pacific Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization: by law, the Council is prohibited from intervening in or supporting any political campaigns. Declared political candidates must appear in a non-candidate capacity at Council events. Fundraising on behalf of a candidate is prohibited.;

4. The Pacific Council does not engage in lobbying, defined as any activity that would require registration under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. The Council does not engage contractors or staff as "lobbyists" as defined by the Act.

5. The Pacific Council will not seek -- on behalf of any individual or entity -- to lobby an agency or official of the U.S. government or of any state or local government. With respect to foreign governments, the Council will not act -- directly or indirectly -- as an agent, representative, or in any other capacity at the order, or under the direction or control of any government or political entity.

6. The Pacific Council seeks to maintain a diversity of funding -- including individual donations, foundation gifts, corporate sponsorships, trip registration fees, and event ticket sales -- in order to retain its independence and to preclude the possibility of any donor compromising the independence and integrity of the discourse at the Council. Donors are proscribed from dictating or vetoing either content or participants in any of the Council's activities or events.

7. The Pacific Council seeks to have a diversity of opinion on its board and at its major public events.

8. As an American organization with a membership made up largely of U.S. citizens, the Pacific Council, our members and our staff must be especially alert to those U.S. laws and regulations that govern travel to certain foreign countries, and interactions with foreign government officials, private citizens and entities abroad. The Pacific Council is committed to complying with all such laws and regulations, which cover a broad range of conduct, including improper gifts to foreign officials and dealings with countries and persons that are the subject of economic sanctions.

These laws and regulations are complex and change frequently. The Pacific Council calls particular attention to U.S. sanctions regulations, especially as those sanctions govern dealings with and travel to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria.  Pacific Council employees must contact the Board of Directors’ Governance Committee as needed to ensure compliance with these and other regulations.

9. The Pacific Council maintains a whistleblower policy. This confidential reporting system allows Council staff to raise any concerns about standards and issues of integrity. Major issues will be directed to the Governance Committee of the Pacific Council’s Board.
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Adopted by the Board of Directors of the Pacific Council on International Policy on April 15, 2016.