Articles

Government Ethics

Ethics: Beyond Codes and Disclosure Forms

Presentation to 32 Speakers of State Houses of Representatives at the 2009 National Speakers Conference hosted by the State Legislative Leaders Foundation, Sea Island, Georgia. October 22, 2009
Kirk Hanson

Successfully Serving as a City Council Member and a Non-profit Board Member

Three brief cases illustrating conflicts between non-profit and public service
Robin Lowe, Judy Nadler, Eric Vail

Two Views of a Budget

A case study for state officials on resolving a budget crisis
Judy Nadler

Red Light, Green Light for State Legislators

Brief cases highlight ethical dilemmas for state officials
Judy Nadler

When Doing Good May Be Doing Wrong

Four scenarios on potential conflicts between public service and work with non-profits
Judy Nadler

Serving Two Masters: Discussion of the Cases

Responses to cases illustrating conflicts of interest

Emerging Ethical Issues for Local Government Officials

Serving Two Masters: Government and Non-Profit Service

LeeAnn Pelham, executive director of the Los Angeles Ethics Commission, looks at potential conflicts of interest.

Ethics and the Assessor

PowerPoint presentation for the California Assessors Association 106th Annual Conference on doing the publics business withﾠtransparency and integrity
Kirk O. Hanson

Do We Have an Obligation to Vote?

An analysis of whether it is possible to make a rational case for the individual's responsibility to vote.
Scott LaBarge, introduced by Judy Nadler

The Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy

Transparency, land use and planning, and civic engagement top the list of information needs for citizens to participate effectively in decision making.
Judy Nadler

Meeting the Public's Information Needs

Center Senior Fellow in Government Ethics joins other community leaders in a discussion of the information needs of communities in a democracy.

Dealing Ethically With the Press: A Guide for Public Officials

Four rules of thumb for government officials in working with the media.
from a workshop with Jerry Ceppos

On Ethics and Immigration

Arizona Governor looks at ethical issues in developing policy on illegal immigration.
Janet Napolitano

Putting Away the Gifts

The Center's senior fellow in government ethics recommends a no-gifts policy for public officials.
Judy Nadler

Sunshine reform

Testimony to the San Jose City Council on improving government transparency.
Judy Nadler

Setting the Stage for Problems

Should a public official solicit charitable contributions from businesses that are under his supervision?
Roey Rahmil

Election Irregularities

A newly elected mayor decides whether to contest a citation for election code violations.
Roey Rahmil

On the Record

What is a former supervisor's duty to reveal about past poor judgments by a candidate for public office.
Roey Rahmil

Ethics and City Hall

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed outlines reforms.
Suruchi Bhutani

San Jose Sunshine Reform Task Force Update

The task force considers recommendations for improving transparency and participation.

Speaking Truth to Power: The Role of the Executive

James O'Toole argues that great leaders encourage candor.
Jennifer Pittman

Whistle Blowing in the Public Sector

An introduction to the ethical issues surrounding government whistle blowers.
Judy Nadler and Miriam Schulman

The Ethics of Leaking

How to tell whether a leak is worth publishing--or taking seriously
Kirk O. Hanson and Jerry Ceppos

The Future of Government Ethics: There's Hope

Senior Fellow in Government Ethics Judy Nadler extends the work of the Center into the classroom.
Miriam Schulman

Codes of Ethics and Values

Access to a wide variety of resources on how cities can develop ethical codes
Judy Nadler and Miriam Schulman

The Personal Lives of Public Officials

Ethical issues at the boundary between a politician's personal and public behavior
Judy Nadler and Miriam Schulman

Civility

An introduction to the ethical issues for public officials.
Judy Nadler and Miriam Schulman

Civil Disagreement

A case exploring the limits of public debate
Judy Nadler

Name Calling on the Council

When the mayor and a councilmember disagree vociferously, is it unacceptable conduct or just the normal rough and tumble of politics?
Judy Nadler

Gifts and Bribes

An introduction to the ethical issues for public officials.
Judy Nadler and Miriam Schulman

No Such Thing as a Free Ticket

A case involving a gift to a government official
Judy Nadler

Political Perk or Part of the Job?

A mayor must decide whether to accept VIP treatment at the ballpark.
Judy Nadler

Ethics and Leadership Camp for Public Officials 2006

Twenty-two city councilmembers, ethics commissioners, and other government officials gathered for the first summer workshop on instilling a culture of ethics in local government.
Judy Nadler

Councilmember and the Manager

A city councilmember must decide if he can impartially review the performance of the city manager.
Judy Nadler

Relationships Between Elected Officials and Staff

An introduction to the ethical issues that arise between city or county staff and councilmembers or supervisors.
Judy Nadler and Miriam Schulman

Favoritism, Cronyism, and Nepotism

An introduction to the ethical issues presented by favoritism in government.
Judy Nadler and Miriam Schulman

Introduction to Government Ethics

Basic material on the most common ethical issues in public service
Judy Nadler and Miriam Schulman

Conflicts of Interest in Government

An introduction to the ethical dilemmas posed by conflicts of interest in the public sphere.
Judy Nadler and Miriam Schulman

Campaign Ethics

An introduction to campaign ethics including ethical dilemmas, cases, and links
Judy Nadler and Miriam Schulman

Evolution of Human Rights Norms and Machinery

Bertrand G. Ramcharan, former United Nations High Commissioner, offers his perspectives on the evolution of human rights norms and machinery.
Bertrand G. Ramcharan

The Case of the Friendly Consultant

A mayor wonders whether a friendly lunch is actually an occasion for lobbying.
Judy Nadler

Lobbying Ethics

An introduction to the ethical considerations in lobbying the government
Judy Nadler and Miriam Schulman

Open Meetings: A Case Study

An executive session makes citizens question a city council's decision on rezoning.
Judy Nadler

Open Meetings, Sunshine Laws, and Transparency in Government

An introduction to the topic including definitions, dilemmas, cases, and links.
Judy Nadler and Miriam Schulman

The Candidate's Crisis of Conscience

A candidate for city council must decide how frank to be in endorsement interviews.
Judy Nadler

What Would a Real Ethics Refresher Course Look Like?

Advice for the Congress and White House about ethical leadership.
Judy Nadler

On-Line Resources in Government Ethics

Links to articles, codes, and other materials about government ethics programs.

Campaign Ethics and Voter Guidelines

Materials on campaign ethics prepared in conjunction with the city of Livermore, Calif.
Judy Nadler

Campaign Ethics Challenge

A candidate faces a last-minute attack from an opponent.
Judy Nadler

The Case of the Extra Mile

Ethics case addressing the work-life balance for public employees.
Kirk O. Hanson

The Case of the Mangled Data

Ethics case addressing the responsibility of public employees to provide accurate information.
Kirk O. Hanson

Creating a Culture of Ethics in the Public Sector

Remarks on government ethics presented at the World Bank
Judy Nadler

Government Ethics Cases for City Finance Directors

Scenarios ask city finance directors to give a red or green light.
Judy Nadler

Nadler Named Woman of the Year

Center Senior Fellow in Government Ethics Judy Nadler has been selected as 'Woman of the Year' for the 22nd Assembly District.

Home Run or Foul Ball

What are the ethical issues to consider when a city manager is dealing with city contracts?
Judy Nadler

Our debt to the future: Will our children pay for the negative consequences of our current choices

When is it appropriate to ask the next generation to pay bills we incur today?
Judy Nadler

Ethics and Public Contracting

Conflicts of interest in public contracting cost public confidence.
Judy Nadler

Ethical Considerations for Candidates and Their Supporters

The task of raising money for a political campaign can be so overwhelming that many qualified individuals don't run for office simply because they don't want to ask for money. Here are some ethical considerations to consider in fundraising for your campaign, or on someone else's behalf.
Judy Nadler

Campaign Ethics: Considerations for Candidates and Their Supporters

Key issues related to fundraising, communications, and campaign conduct
Judy Nadler

Ethics in Contracting

Judy Nadler, senior fellow in government ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, speaks at League of California Cities, US conference of Mayors, and Fire Academy.

Will city's ethics reform bear fruit? City Task Force Could Learn a Lesson from Picking Cherries

As San Jose's task force on ethics meets to review and revise ethics provisions of the San Jose Municipal Code, Judy Nadler offers the following observations on some similarities between picking cherries and addressing government ethics.
Judy Nadler

Red Light, Green Light

Ten ethical dilemmas facing elected officials.
Judy Nadler

A Tale of Two Downtowns

How should a Vietnamese-American councilmember balance the needs of his own ethnic group and the needs of other segments of the community?
Judy Nadler

Supreme Court on Educational Diversity

From my standpoint as a constitutional law professor, a particularly interesting strand of the Grutter majority opinion is the reliance upon the First Amendment to uphold the right of public universities to value student body racial diversity.
Margaret M. Russell

Politics, the Supreme Court, and Affirmative Action

The decision in Grutter v. Bollinger that it was constitutionally permissible for public colleges and universities to consider race in student admissions was transparently political, in the sense that the outcome was grounded more in the political choices of the justices and the surrounding political context than in any objective legal principles.
Brad Joondeph

Shocking thought: Get serious about ethics

What steps can be taken to rebuild public confidence in the independence of elected officials?
Judy Nadler

Ethical Political Leadership: Speaking Hard Truths

Some part of the responsibility for the unwillingness to speak the hard truths must rest with the public who are woefully mistrustful and uninformed about how government works.
Judy Nadler

Allocating and Stewarding Water Resources

The issues surrounding water-its availability, price, use, quality, and ownership-are affecting local governments and citizens on a regular basis.
Judy Nadler

Unavoidable Ethical Dilemmas of Newly-Elected Local Officials

As part of the Center's commitment to government ethics, Senior Fellow Judy Nadler convened 13 mayors and council members for Santa Clara and San Mateo counties to share the top ethical dilemmas confronting every person who comes into local elected office.
Judy Nadler

Alice Hayes and Affordable Housing

A new city councilmember must weigh the community's need for affordable housing with the desire to preserve open space.
Judy Nadler

Business as Usual

A retired city engineer goes back to work for the city as an independent contractor. When he bids for a job, a councilmember raises questions.
Judy Nadler

Case of the Big Box Retailer

A revenue shortfall causes a city council to consider the tax benefits from a big-box retailer versus the potential harm to established small businesses.
Judy Nadler

The Mayor and the Manager

A case exploring the proper relationship between city councilmembers and city staff.
Judy Nadler

Old Friends and Conflicts of Interest

How do relationships with "old friends" change when someone is elected to public office?
Judy Nadler

Sex in the City

Is an elected official's personal life legitimately "private"?
Judy Nadler

Right of Way

As the California coastline changes because of the ocean's continual pounding, the question is asked who has access to the fluctuating landscape?
Rob Elder

Ethical Implications of California's Recall Election

A panel discussion with SCU professors of political science.
Ethics at Noon

Budget Crunch Ethics

A California State Assembly member discusses the ethical choices legislators face during a budget crisis.
Joe Simitian

State's accounting tricks cheat future taxpayers

The responsibility of one generation is shifted to the next by accounting gimmicks.
William K. Black

The Case of the Sikh Temple

Plans for a 94,000 square foot structure raise questions about the zoning of a house of worship.
Mark Ralkowski

Access, Internet, and Public Libraries

A report prepared for the Santa Clara County Libraries on challenges posed by the availability to minors of sexually explicit material on the Internet. The report addresses issues such as filtering and free speech.
Thomas Shanks and Barry Stenger

Privacy vs. Security

The Center's Framework for Ethical Decision making is applied to privacy vs. security concerns in the wake of the terrorist attacks.
Bharath Krishnamurthy

The Cyber City Network

An online network for city services raises questions about access and whether the provision of services electronically will increase disparities between rich and poor.
Thomas Shanks