Many institutions and organizations of professionals have promulgated 'codes' of ethics in recent years in order both to establish accepted practices of professionals in various disciplines and to deal with problems raised by the unique aspects of cultural heritage issues. The author follows the processes of formulation, role, influence, interpretation, and effectiveness of such codes, as well as their relationship to the legal system. While acknowledging that it is often difficult to enforce these codes, the author suggests that they serve a valuable role both in educating the members of the various organizations and the public and in establishing goals for which these professionals aspire.