Civility
By Judy Nadler and Miriam Schulman
These materials were prepared for the Markkula Center for
Applied Ethics program in Government Ethics by Senior Fellow
Judy Nadler and Communications Director Miriam Schulman. The
Center provides training in local government ethics for public
officials. For more information, contact Judy
Nadler.
What is civility?
What does civility have to do with ethics?
What ethical dilemmas does incivility present?
Resources on civility
What is civility?
When George Washington was 14 years old, he copied out 110
"Rules
of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation"
from an English translation of a French book of manners. As
relevant to the conduct of government today as they were when
they were first written, they include:
Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of
respect to those that are present.
Sleep not when others speak, sit not when others stand, speak
not when you should hold your peace, walk not on when others
stop.
Shake not the head, feet, or legs; roll not the eyes; lift
not one eyebrow higher than the other; wry not the mouth; and
bedew no man's face with your spittle by approaching too near
him when you speak.
Show not yourself glad at the misfortune of another though
he were your enemy.
In short, civility is based on the golden rule that we should
treat others as we wish to be treated. In government, it means
conducting the public's business with respect for other elected
officials, staff, and citizens. In civil discourse, opponents
make their arguments on the merits of the case rather than engaging
in ad hominem attacks.
What does civility have to do with ethics?
Civility
is all about virtue ethics: that is, the cultivation of
those traits-such as honesty, fairness, self-control, and prudence-that
help us reach our full human potential. When public officials
practice civility, they are helping their city, county, state,
or country to fulfill its potential by putting the common good
ahead of personal rivalries or irritations.
Civility is a good example of the difference between ethics
and law. While acting civilly is the right thing to do, and
government bodies should encourage it, civility cannot be legislated.
One city council tried to ban "body language or other nonverbal
methods of expressing disagreement or disgust." Ultimately
they decided to repeal the ordinance when citizens expressed
disgust at the council's need to control eye-rolling and grimacing
through legislation.
What ethical dilemmas does incivility present?
The primary responsibility of elected officials is to represent
their constituents' best interests. It is amazing how often
that responsibility is impeded by incivility. Countless hours
are wasted in e-mail wars and public debates that have nothing
to do with the business at hand and everything to do with rudeness.
Incivility can be a real problem in what might be called "election
hangover." A successful mayoral candidate may have trouble
relating to a councilperson who did not support her, or a newly
elected supervisor may not get along with an incumbent who endorsed
his opponent. And incivility is not confined to the treatment
of other elected officials. It is an equally serious problem
when elected officials denigrate staff with whom they disagree.
Generally, civility is best fostered by a group commitment
to parliamentary procedures such as Roberts Rules of Order.
Councilmembers may decide, for example, to use formal titles
when addressing each other at public meetings, to stick religiously
to time limits for discussion, to respect the role of the presiding
officer in moving the discussion, and to disallow displays such
as applause or booing in chambers. While such measures may feel
stilted, they reflect the high standards of conduct that should
govern those who represent the public.
Resources on civility
Cases on Civlity
Name
Calling on the Council
Civil
Disagreement
All
Cases on Government Ethics
Articles
About Government Ethics on This Web Site
Articles
About Ethical Decision Making on This Web Site
Introduction
to Government Ethics Homepage
August 2006
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