Introduction to Government Ethics
by Judy Nadler and Miriam Schulman
Sometimes it's easy to see when things go wrong in government:
Elected officials take bribes; candidates lie about their opponents;
city officials make important public decisions in secret meetings.
Other times, the right thing is not so obvious: Should a councilmember
represent the wishes the majority, even when he or she thinks
the majority is wrong? Is it acceptable for a governor to appoint
a family member to his or her cabinet if the appointee is the
best person for the job?
Whether the ethical issues are obvious or complicated, they
are easier to address if public servants have given some thought
to the kinds of dilemmas they will confront before a crisis
occurs. The materials in this "primer" on government
ethics are intended to provide elected officials, government
workers, and ordinary citizens with an introduction to the basic
questions that are likely to come up in the conduct of public
business.
Each section of the primer includes definitions, a discussion
of the ethical issues involved, and a description of the unavoidable
ethical dilemmas that arise in government. Links are provided
to cases and to selected Web sites with further information.
The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics also provides training
on these issues. For more information, contact Judy
Nadler, senior fellow in government ethics.
Introductory Issues in Government Ethics
Whistle
Blowing in the Public Sector
Civility
Conflicts
of Interest
Open
Meetings, Sunshine Laws, and Transparency
Campaign
Ethics
Lobbying
Gifts
and Bribes
Favoritism,
Cronyism, and Nepotism
Unavoidable
Ethical Dilemmas of Newly-Elected Local Officials
Relationships
Between Elected Officials and Staff
The
Personal Lives of Public Officials
Dealing
Ethically With the Press
Other Materials on Government Ethics
Articles
Cases
General Resources on Ethics
A
Framework for Ethical Decision Making
Thinking
Ethically
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