S.W.A.M.P. Index
The S.W.A.M.P. Index (States With Anti-corruption Measures for Public officials) is C4I’s comprehensive analysis of ethics and transparency laws across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Index evaluates state-level legal frameworks governing accountability, transparency, and ethical conduct in both executive and legislative branches.
The Index assesses critical integrity measures including the scope and independence of ethics agencies, gift acceptance and disclosure rules, campaign finance transparency, and client disclosure requirements for legislators. By benchmarking states against best practices, the S.W.A.M.P. Index provides policymakers, constituents, and civil society with an objective tool to identify gaps in their state’s ethics framework and advocate for reforms.
Our research demonstrates that state ethics laws serve as the first line of defense against corruption in the United States. While no state achieves a perfect score, the Index reveals significant variation in how states protect integrity, from robust independent oversight and enforcement mechanisms to jurisdictions with minimal restrictions on gifts or campaign spending disclosure.
C4I uses the S.W.A.M.P. Index findings to inform targeted advocacy, collaborate with state-based organizations, and provide technical guidance to legislators working to strengthen their state’s integrity infrastructure. The Index is updated periodically to reflect legislative changes and emerging challenges in state-level governance.