When a consultant or specialist gives advice to his superior, he is using __________ authority.

NSPE's true/false exam tests your knowledge of professional engineering ethics. When you're done, click on the "Answers" link at the bottom of the page to see how well you did.

This test is intended to test individual knowledge of the specific language contained in the NSPE Code of Ethics and is not intended to measure individual knowledge of engineering ethics or the ethics of individual engineers or engineering students.

A series of true/false questions pertaining to the NSPE Code of Ethics follows.

1. It is sufficient that Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, carefully consider the safety, health, and welfare of the public.
2. Engineers may perform services outside of their areas of competence as long as they inform their employers or clients.
3. Engineers may issue subjective and partial statements if such statements are in writing and consistent with the best interests of their employers, clients, or the public.
4. Engineers shall act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.
5. Engineers shall not be required to engage in truthful acts when required to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.
6. Engineers may not be required to follow the provisions of state or federal law when such actions could endanger or compromise their employer or their clients' interests.
7. If engineers' judgment is overruled under circumstances that endanger life or property, they shall notify their employers or clients and such other authority as may be appropriate.
8.  Engineers may review but shall not approve those engineering documents that are in conformity with applicable standards.
9. Engineers shall not reveal facts, data...information without the prior consent of the client or employer except as authorized or required by law or this Code.
10. Engineers shall not permit the use of their names or associates in business ventures with any person or firm that they believe is engaged in fraudulent or dishonest enterprise, unless such enterprise or activity is deemed consistent with applicable state or federal law.
11. Engineers having knowledge of any alleged violation of this Code, following a period of 30 days during which the violation is not corrected, shall report thereon to appropriate professional bodies and, when relevant, also to public authorities, and cooperate with the proper authorities in furnishing such information or assistance as may be required.
12. Engineers shall undertake assignments only when qualified by education or experience in the specific technical fields involved.
13. Engineers shall not affix their signatures to plans or documents dealing with subject matter in which they lack competence, but may affix their signatures to plans or documents not prepared under their direction and control where they have a good faith belief that such plans or documents were competently prepared by another designated party.
14. Engineers may accept assignments and assume responsibility for coordination of an entire project and shall sign and seal the engineering documents for the entire project, including each technical segment of the plans and documents.
15. Engineers shall strive to be objective and truthful in professional reports, statements or testimony, with primary consideration for the best interests of the engineers' clients or employers. The engineers' reports shall include all relevant and pertinent information in such reports, statements, or testimony, which shall bear the date on which the engineers were retained by the clients to prepare the reports.
16. Engineers may express publicly technical opinions that are founded upon knowledge of the facts and competence in the subject matter.
17. Engineers shall not issue statements, criticisms, or arguments on technical matters that are inspired or paid for by interested parties, unless they have prefaced their comments by explicitly identifying the interested parties on whose behalf they are speaking and revealing the existence of any interest the engineers may have in the matters.
18. Engineers may not participate in any matter involving a conflict of interest if it could influence or appear to influence their judgment or the quality of their services.
19. Engineers shall not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than one party for services on the same project, or for services pertaining to the same project, unless the circumstances are fully disclosed and agreed to by all interested parties.
20. Engineers shall not solicit but may accept financial or other valuable consideration, directly or indirectly, from outside agents in connection with the work for which they are responsible, if such compensation is fully disclosed.
21. Engineers in public service as members, advisors, or employees of a governmental or quasi-governmental body or department may participate in decisions with respect to services solicited or provided by them or their organizations in private or public engineering practice as long as such decisions do not involve technical engineering matters for which they do not posses professional competence.
22. Engineers shall not solicit nor accept a contract from a governmental body on which a principal or officer of their organization serves as a member.
23. Engineers shall not intentionally falsify their qualifications nor actively permit written misrepresentation of their or their associate's qualifications. Engineers may accept credit for previous work performed where the work was performed during the period the engineers were employed by the previous employer. Brochures or other presentations incident to the solicitation of employment shall specifically indicate the work performed and the dates the engineers were employed by the firms.
24. Engineers shall not offer, give, solicit, nor receive, either directly or indirectly, any contribution to influence the award of a contract by a public authority, or which may be reasonably construed by the public as having the effect or intent of influencing the award of a contract unless such contribution is made in accordance with applicable federal or state election campaign finance laws and regulations.
25. Engineers shall acknowledge their errors after consulting with their employers or clients.

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