"Everyday Ethics" is the Institute's award-winning column. Every two months, the Institute's ethics program analyzes different ethical dilemmas public officials are likely to face. Some of these dilemmas have legal dimensions, some have ethical dimensions and many are a combination of both. The column appears in Western City magazine, the monthly publication of one of the Institute's parent organizations, the League of California Cities.
This section of the website archives past columns, organized by topic area. For a list of all columns, simply search on the term "Everyday Ethics" in the search box in the upper right of the site, or click here to view a list of past columns with links to each column.
To suggest a topic, post a comment on the discussion group at right.
The article Another Tool in the Ethics Toolbox: The Agency Auditing Function examines the role audits play in preventing misuse of public resources.Read more »
In general, the public is skeptical about people trying to curry favor with public officials through gift-giving. To understand the complex rules related to gifts, it’s helpful to first understand the key principles on which the rules are based and what the rules are intended to accomplish. Visit ILG's Gift Resource Center for more information on this topic.
What can local officials and their communities do to prevent a culture of self-interest over public interest from taking hold? What can they do to make sure abuses of authority do not occur in their communities?
When it comes to closed sessions, and confidential information learned during closed sessions, the decision to provide greater transparency must reflect the collective judgment of the decision-making body. As discussed in this column there can often be competing “right” values at stake in a situation.
(Four-page tipsheet): Provides a handy reference on the kinds of issues that ought to trigger a conversation with agency counsel or the Fair Political Practices Commission.
This fictional account illustrates how local officials can inadvertently be lured into problematic situations and offers ideas on how to respond. Download video »
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