Ethics

Promoting an Ethical Culture

Promoting an ethical culture is a key leadership responsibility.  Equity, transparency, honor, integrity, commitment, and stewardship are standards for excellence in democratic local governance. ICMA promotes ethical conduct through its Code of Ethics, training for local governments, publications on ethics issues, technical assistance, and advice to members. For more information about ICMA’s Code of Ethics, its guidelines and enforcement process, and current issues and advice facing local government professionals,  visit the Ethics Program section of icma.org.

Training and Technical Assistance Services

For information about local government ethics workshops and technical assistance services, call the ICMA Ethics Center at 202/962-3521.  Workshops on such topics as “Promoting an Ethical Culture” ,“Ethics in the Real World" and "Elected Officials and the Public Trust" are available for staff, leadership, elected officials, boards, and commissions. 

ICMA's Code of Ethics is 85 years old this September! This month we recognize the 85th anniversary of the ICMA Code of Ethics, which was adopted during the September 1924 ICMA Annual Conference in Montréal! To commemorate, we're launching a year-long celebration at the Montréal conference that will tell the story of the importance of the Code to our profession, inspire members to continue their commitment to the highest ethical standards, and promote ethical conduct. We have also created a special web page at http://icma.org/ethics/85 to showcase key changes in the Code of Ethics, articles of relevance, and a quiz to test your ethics acumen. This website will be updated often, to include reflections from ICMA's leadership about the importance and relevancy of the Code of Ethics plays in professional life; and, stories that will inspire members to continue their committment to the highest ethical standards and promote ethical conduct. 

Highlights 

Emphasis on Ethics - from ICMA's Annual Conference

Bring ICMA ethics services to you!
 For information about local government ethics workshops
 and technical assistance services,
 call the ICMA Ethics Center at
202-962-3521.

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Advice

	Professional Courtesy Year: 2009; Pages: 2.
	What Price Political Neutrality? Year: 2009; Pages: 2.
	The Profession's Foundation: Celebrating 85 Years of the ICMA Code of Ethics Year: 2009; Pages: 2.
	How Ethical Are You? Year: 2009; Pages: 4.
	Compensation, Severance, and Bonus Issues: Are We on Main Street or Wall Street? Year: 2009; Pages: 2.

Local Government Innovations

	Community of Character Year: 2005;
	Ethics Code for Volunteer Board Year: 2003;
	Candidates for Public Office Use City Code of Ethics Year: 2003;

Sample Government Documents

	Code of Ethics (Elected Officials): Wendell, North Carolina Year: 2008; Pages: 6.
	Innovative Ethics Program Moves to Next Level Year: 2006; Pages: 1.
	Ethics in Government Begins at the Ballot Box: 2006 Vote Ethics Initiative Year: 2006;
	Nepotism Policy Year: 2005; Pages: 1.
	Nepotism Policy Year: 2005; Pages: 2.

Reports and Articles

	Ethics: Alive and Well Year: 2007; Pages: 4.
	ICMA Code of Ethics: Rules of Procedure for Enforcement Year: 2005; Pages: 4.
	ICMA Code of Ethics Year: 2004; Pages: 3.
	White House Memorandum to Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies Regarding "Ensuring Responsible Spending of the Recovery Act Funds" Year: 2009; Pages: 5.
	The Role of Ethics in the 21st Century Year: 2009; Pages: 7.

ICMA Publications About Ethics

	Take the Ethics Challenge: An Interactive Audioconference for Local Governments   In this 90-minute audioconference with ICMA's director of ethis, Martha Perego, you'll tackle real-world case studies to give you an eye-opening perspective on a topic that sometimes gets taken for granted.
	Take the Ethics Challenge: An Interactive Audio-Workshop for Local Governments   Martha Perego, ICMA’s director of ethics, walks you through real-world case studies to give you and your staff an eye-opening perspective on a topic that sometimes gets taken for granted.
	Case 19: A Jail in City Center   The third of three cases in Part VII: Relating to Other Organizations, from Managing Local Government: Cases in Effectiveness.
	Case 18: The Manager's Role in Promoting Sustainability   The second of three cases in Part VII: Relating to Other Organizations, from Managing Local Government: Cases in Effectiveness.
	Case 17: A Park, a School, and Two Strained Budgets   The first of three cases in Part VII: Relating to Other Organizations, from Managing Local Government: Cases in Effectiveness.

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