Ethics and Professional Conduct
Expert-defined terms from the Professional Certificate Course in Administrative Law course at London School of Planning and Management. Free to read, free to share, paired with a professional course.
Term #
Administrative Ethics
Concept #
Moral principles governing behavior of public administrators.
Explanation #
Administrative ethics guide decisions, ensuring actions serve the public interest, respect legal limits, and uphold trust.
Example #
A city manager refuses a bribe from a contractor seeking a municipal contract.
Practical application #
Developing codes of conduct for civil servants and providing ethics training.
Challenges #
Balancing competing stakeholder interests and interpreting vague ethical standards.
Term #
Bias
Concept #
Prejudice that influences decision‑making without objective justification.
Explanation #
Bias can be conscious or unconscious and may lead to unfair outcomes in administrative processes.
Example #
A licensing officer favors applicants from their own community.
Practical application #
Implementing blind review procedures and regular bias awareness workshops.
Challenges #
Detecting subtle biases and correcting entrenched institutional habits.
Term #
Code of Conduct
Concept #
Formal document outlining expected ethical behavior for officials.
Explanation #
The code sets clear boundaries, describes prohibited conduct, and provides guidance on handling dilemmas.
Example #
A government agency’s code requires disclosure of any financial interest in regulated industries.
Practical application #
Distributing the code to all employees and integrating it into performance evaluations.
Challenges #
Keeping the code current with evolving legal and societal expectations.
Term #
Duty of Loyalty
Concept #
Obligation of public officials to place public interest above personal gain.
Explanation #
Breaching loyalty may constitute misconduct and erode public confidence.
Example #
A procurement officer awards a contract to a company owned by a family member without disclosure.
Practical application #
Mandatory conflict‑of‑interest declarations and regular audits.
Challenges #
Identifying indirect benefits and managing relationships that may appear improper.
Term #
Ethical Decision‑Making Model
Concept #
Structured approach to resolve moral dilemmas.
Explanation #
The model typically includes identifying the problem, gathering facts, evaluating alternatives, and reflecting on values.
Example #
Using the model, a regulator decides whether to waive a penalty for a first‑time offender.
Practical application #
Embedding the model in training curricula and decision‑support tools.
Challenges #
Time pressure and limited information may hinder thorough analysis.
Term #
Freedom of Information
Concept #
Legal right of citizens to access government records.
Explanation #
Balances public interest in disclosure against privacy, security, and commercial sensitivity.
Example #
A journalist requests minutes of a city council meeting under the Freedom of Information Act.
Practical application #
Establishing clear request procedures and response timelines.
Challenges #
Redacting sensitive information while maintaining the spirit of openness.
Term #
Good Governance
Concept #
Framework ensuring that public administration is effective, equitable, and accountable.
Explanation #
Good governance incorporates participation, responsiveness, and ethical stewardship.
Example #
An agency publishes performance metrics and holds public hearings on policy changes.
Practical application #
Regular citizen satisfaction surveys and independent oversight bodies.
Challenges #
Overcoming bureaucratic inertia and resource constraints.
Term #
Harassment Policy
Concept #
Guidelines prohibiting unwanted conduct that creates a hostile work environment.
Explanation #
Policies define prohibited behavior, reporting mechanisms, and remedial actions.
Example #
An employee files a complaint after receiving repeated derogatory remarks from a supervisor.
Practical application #
Providing confidential reporting channels and mandatory training.
Challenges #
Ensuring impartial investigations and protecting complainants from retaliation.
Term #
Impartiality
Concept #
Neutrality in performing duties without favoritism or prejudice.
Explanation #
Impartial officials base decisions solely on law and evidence.
Example #
A judge recuses themselves from a case involving a former colleague.
Practical application #
Rotating case assignments and monitoring decision patterns.
Challenges #
Perceived or actual conflicts that may compromise neutrality.
Term #
Judicial Review
Concept #
Court authority to examine legality of administrative actions.
Explanation #
Review ensures agencies act within statutory limits and respect rights.
Example #
A court overturns a licensing decision for failing to provide a hearing.
Practical application #
Drafting decisions with clear reasoning and record‑keeping.
Challenges #
Balancing deference to expertise with protection of individual rights.
Term #
Knowledge Management
Concept #
Systematic handling of information and expertise within an organization.
Explanation #
Effective knowledge management supports ethical decision‑making by providing relevant precedents.
Example #
A public agency maintains an online repository of past ethical case studies.
Practical application #
Implementing searchable databases and regular knowledge‑sharing sessions.
Challenges #
Keeping information up‑to‑date and encouraging staff participation.
Term #
Legitimate Expectation
Concept #
Reasonable anticipation that a public body will act in a certain way based on past practice or promises.
Explanation #
Violating this expectation may give rise to a legal challenge.
Example #
A department promises a streamlined permit process, then imposes unexpected fees.
Practical application #
Documenting policy changes and providing adequate notice.
Challenges #
Managing expectations while adapting to new legislative requirements.
Term #
Misconduct
Concept #
Improper or illegal behavior by a public official.
Explanation #
Misconduct ranges from minor procedural errors to serious offenses like fraud.
Example #
An employee falsifies attendance records to claim overtime pay.
Practical application #
Establishing clear disciplinary codes and investigative protocols.
Challenges #
Detecting covert misconduct and ensuring due process.
Term #
Non‑Discrimination
Concept #
Principle prohibiting unjust treatment based on protected characteristics.
Explanation #
Administrative decisions must be based on objective criteria, not bias.
Example #
A social service agency allocates resources without regard to race, gender, or disability.
Practical application #
Conducting impact assessments and regular equity audits.
Challenges #
Addressing systemic disparities while maintaining neutrality.
Term #
Obligation of Confidentiality
Concept #
Duty to protect sensitive information obtained in the course of public service.
Explanation #
Breaches can undermine trust and expose individuals to harm.
Example #
A civil servant leaks personal data of welfare recipients to the media.
Practical application #
Enforcing secure data handling procedures and training.
Challenges #
Balancing transparency with legitimate confidentiality needs.
Term #
Public Interest
Concept #
The welfare or well‑being of the community as a whole.
Explanation #
Decisions should aim to maximize benefits and minimize harms to society.
Example #
Closing a polluting factory to protect public health, despite job losses.
Practical application #
Conducting cost‑benefit analyses and public consultations.
Challenges #
Defining and measuring abstract notions of benefit.
Term #
Quid Pro Quo
Concept #
An exchange where a favor or advantage is offered in return for something else, often illegal in public administration.
Explanation #
Such arrangements compromise integrity and violate ethical standards.
Example #
A regulator offers expedited approval in exchange for a personal loan.
Practical application #
Strict gift and hospitality policies with disclosure requirements.
Challenges #
Detecting subtle or indirect quid pro quo arrangements.
Term #
Responsibility
Concept #
Accountability for actions and decisions taken in an official capacity.
Explanation #
Officials must justify their conduct and accept consequences for failures.
Example #
A department head is held responsible for a data breach caused by inadequate security.
Practical application #
Implementing performance metrics linked to ethical outcomes.
Challenges #
Diffusing responsibility across complex bureaucratic structures.
Term #
Transparency
Concept #
Openness in processes, decisions, and information sharing.
Explanation #
Transparency reduces opportunities for corruption and builds trust.
Example #
Publishing detailed procurement contracts on a public website.
Practical application #
Real‑time dashboards showing service delivery statistics.
Challenges #
Protecting confidential information while providing sufficient detail.
Term #
Whistleblower Protection
Concept #
Legal safeguards for individuals reporting wrongdoing.
Explanation #
Protection encourages reporting of misconduct without fear of reprisals.
Example #
An employee reports illegal expense reimbursements and is shielded from dismissal.
Practical application #
Anonymous reporting channels and clear anti‑retaliation policies.
Challenges #
Ensuring confidentiality and preventing false allegations.
Term #
Undue Influence
Concept #
Improper pressure exerted on an official to affect a decision.
Explanation #
Undue influence undermines independent judgment.
Example #
A lobbyist threatens to withdraw funding unless a regulation is softened.
Practical application #
Recording all meetings with external parties and requiring justification.
Challenges #
Distinguishing legitimate advocacy from improper pressure.
Term #
Values‑Based Leadership
Concept #
Guiding an organization through a clear set of ethical principles.
Explanation #
Leaders embody and reinforce values such as integrity, fairness, and service.
Example #
A director publicly refuses to accept gifts from vendors, setting a precedent.
Practical application #
Integrating values into recruitment, appraisal, and reward systems.
Challenges #
Aligning diverse staff motivations with overarching ethical standards.
Term #
Workplace Ethics
Concept #
Moral standards governing behavior among employees.
Explanation #
Ethics in the workplace promote cooperation, trust, and compliance.
Example #
Staff members collaborate honestly on a joint project without cutting corners.
Practical application #
Regular ethics briefings and scenario‑based training.
Challenges #
Addressing cultural differences and varying personal moral frameworks.
Term #
eX‑ante Risk Assessment
Concept #
Proactive evaluation of potential ethical risks before a decision is made.
Explanation #
Identifying risks early allows mitigation strategies to be applied.
Example #
Before launching a public‑private partnership, officials assess conflict‑of‑interest risks.
Practical application #
Checklists and risk‑scoring tools embedded in decision workflows.
Challenges #
Predicting rare or complex ethical dilemmas.
Term #
Yield of Ethical Audits
Concept #
Findings and recommendations from systematic reviews of ethical practices.
Explanation #
Audits provide insight into strengths and weaknesses of ethical systems.
Example #
An audit reveals insufficient disclosure of gifts, prompting policy revision.
Practical application #
Scheduling annual ethical audits and publishing summary reports.
Challenges #
Securing cooperation and ensuring audit independence.
Term #
Zero‑Tolerance Policy
Concept #
Strict enforcement stance that any breach of specified conduct results in immediate sanction.
Explanation #
Intended to deter serious misconduct by signaling no compromise.
Example #
An agency enforces immediate termination for any employee caught fabricating documents.
Practical application #
Clear policy statements and swift, consistent enforcement.
Challenges #
Balancing fairness with rigidity, especially for minor infractions.