Ethics in Public Administration

Ethics in Public Administration

Stefanie Zwack
POLS501 – Public Administration
11/26/13
Literature Review

“The aim of every political constitution is, or ought to be, first to obtain for rulers men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of the society; and in the next place, to take the most effectual precautions for keeping them virtuous whilst they continue to hold their public trust. The elective mode of obtaining rulers is the characteristic policy of republican government. The means relied on in this form of government for preventing their degeneracy are numerous and various. The most effectual one, is such a limitation of the term of appointments as will maintain a proper responsibility to the people.1” How does one maintain proper responsibility to the people? Public Administration is a major contributor to democratic life. Its success advances to the building and maintaining of public trust built in democracy2. One of the greatest obstacles a public administrator is faced with are political and personal responsibilities. Friedrich believes that political and personal responsibilities are acquired through reasoned communication based on scientific knowledge3, while Finer argues that strict obedience to political administration superiors are ones political and personal responsibilities4. Finer also questions if there is such thing as being overly educated, and if those that are highly educated being scared away from governmental positions, thus leaving sub par people to take those roles5. The thought is that if there were better personnel in government positions than there would be a better political system; therefore a more ethically inclined system. Eric Raile agrees with Friedrich 's approach of reasoned communication; being educated on ethics through training, personal interactions, and perceived knowledge will influence perceptions of ethical climate6. An

Bibliography: Barnett, Tim. (1992). “A Preliminary Investigation of the Relationship between Selected Organizational Characteristics and External Whistleblowing by Employees.” Journal of Business Ethics. 11. Brady, F. Neil. (2003). “ 'Publics ' Administration and the Ethics of Particularity.” Public Administration Review. 63. Christensen, Robert K., Holly T. Goerdel, and Sean Nicholson-Crotty. (2011). “Management, Law, and the Pursuit of the Public Good in Public Administration.” Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. 21. Finer, Herman. (1936) “Better Government Personnel.” Political Science Quarterly. 51. Finer, Herman (1941). “Administrative Responsibility in Democratic Government.” Public Administration Review 1. Fredericksen, Patricia J. and Daniel Levin. (2004). “Accountability and the Use of Volunteer Officers in Public Safety Organizations.” Public Performance and Management Review. 27. Gobert, James and Maurice Punch. (2000). “Whistleblowers, the Pulic Interest, and the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.” The Modern Law Review. 63. Goodsell, Charles T. (2006). “A New Vision for Public Administration.” Public Administration Review. 66. Grant, Ruth W. and Robert O. Keohane. (2005). “Accountability and Abuses of Power in World Politics.” The American Political Science Review. 99. Huang, Yi-Hui (2001). “Should a Public Relations Code of Ethics be Enforced?” Journal of Business Ethics. 31. Huddleston, Mark W Jos, Philip H., Mark E. Tompkins, and Steven W. Hays. (1989). “In Praise of Difficult People: A Portrait of the Committed Whistleblower.” Public Administration Review. 49. Kettl, Donald F. (2009). “Administrative Accountability and the Rule of Law.” PS: Political Science and Politics. 42. Kim, Seok-Eun. (2005). “Balancing Competing Accountability Requirements: Challenges in Performance Improvement of the Nonprofit Human Services Agency.” Public Performance and Management Review. 29. Luo, Yadong. (2006). “Political Behavior, Social Responsibility, and Perceived Corruption: A Structuration Perspective.” Journal of International Business Studies. 37. Madison, James. (1788) “The Alleged Tendency of the New Plan to Elevate the Few at the Expense of the Many Considered in Connection with Representation.” New York Packet. The Federalist. McNamee, Michael John and Scott Fleming. (2007). “Ethics Audits and Corporate Governance: The Case of Public Sector Sports Organizations.” Journal of Business Ethics. 73. Plant, Jeremy F. (2011). “Carl J. Friedrich on Responsibility and Authority.” Public Administration Review. 71 Raile, Eric D Rodgers, Robert and Nanette Rodgers. (2000) “Defining the Boundaries of Public Administration: Undisciplined Mongrels versus Disciplined Purists.” Public Administration Review. 60. Sayre, Wallace S. (1948). “The Triumph of Techniques over Purpose.” Public Administration Review. 8. Shanahan, Kevin J. and Michael R. Hyman. (2003). “The Development of a Virtue Ethics Scale.” Journal of Business Ethics. 42. Smith, Robert W. (2003). “ Enforcement or Ethical Capacity: Considering the Role of State Ethics Commissions at the Millennium.” Public Administration Review. 63. Smith, Rogers M. (2008).“Religious Rhetoric and the Ethics of Public Discourse: The Case of George W. Bush.” Political Theory. 36. Stensota, Helena Olofsdotter. (2010). “The Conditions of Care: Reframing the Debate about Public Sector Ethics.” Public Administration Review. 70. Taylor, Eileen Z. and Mary B. Curtis. (2010). “An Examination of the Layers of Workplace Influences in Ethical Judgments: Whistleblowing Likelihood and Perseverance in Public Accounting.” Journal of Business Ethics. 93. Thompson, Dennis F. (1985). “The Possibility of Administrative Ethics.” Public Administration Review. 45.