ICMA was founded with a commitment to representative local government with a dedication to promoting efficient and effective public services. To fulfill this commitment, ICMA works to maintain and enhance public trust and confidence in local government, achieve equity and social justice, affirm human dignity, and improve quality of life.
Members of ICMA dedicate themselves to the faithful stewardship of the public’s trust in striving for management excellence as outlined in ICMA’s Declaration of Ideals (below):
- Provide an environment that ensures the continued existence and effectiveness of representative local government and promotes the understanding that democracy confers privileges and responsibilities on each citizen.
- Recognize the right of citizens to influence decisions that affect their well-being; advocate a forum for meaningful citizen participation and expression of the political process; and facilitate the clarification of community values and goals.
- Respect the special character and individuality of each community while recognizing the interdependence of communities and promoting coordination and cooperation.
- Seek balance in the policy formation process through the integration of the social, cultural, and physical characteristics of the community.
- Promote a balance between the needs to use and to preserve human, economic, and natural resources.
- Advocate equitable regulation and service delivery, recognizing that needs and expectations for public services may vary throughout the community.
- Develop a responsive, dynamic local government organization that continuously assesses its purpose and seeks the most effective techniques and technologies for serving the community.
- Affirm the intrinsic value of public service and create an environment that inspires excellence in management and fosters the professional and personal development of all employees.
- Seek a balanced life through ongoing professional, intellectual, and emotional growth.
- Demonstrate commitment to professional ethics and ideals and support colleagues in the maintenance of these standards.
- Take actions to create diverse opportunities in housing, employment, and cultural activity in every community for all people.
ICMA completed its three-year review of the Code dedicated to focus on better integrating the profession’s long-standing ethical commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion into the 12 tenets in June 2023.
As background, the Board adopted a statement in June 2020 that included several steps ICMA would take with one action specific to ethics:
“The local government management profession and ICMA were founded on a Code of Ethics and a Declaration of Ideals, which demand that we serve the best interests of all, achieve equity and social justice, and act with integrity so that we may earn the trust of all those we serve. Addressing systemic racism is our ethical obligation. We will revisit our Code of Ethics to better integrate our ethical commitment to racial justice and equity into the very fiber of the 12 tenets.”
The project scope of work included the following steps with the assistance of a consultant team:
- Conducted an environmental scan to learn how other professional associations are addressing equity and racial justice in their codes.
- Convened focus groups to help shape a survey to membership.
- Facilitated discussions: in-person meetings and virtual sessions.
- Developed a survey to send to all members to gauge ways to strengthen the Code’s commitment to equity and social justice and the ethical responsibility of members to serve the best interests of everyone living in their communities.
- Prepared a report for the Committee on Professional Conduct (CPC) and Board summarizing recommended changes to the Code.
- Developed a member communications strategy for proposed Code changes.
Engaging members in discussion was a crucial component of the effort to review the language in the Code. ICMA facilitated 17 sessions and heard from over 600 members who shared their perspectives. The discussions focused on four tenets and some of the corresponding guidelines that participating members identified as most relevant to the profession’s continued commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that shaped the survey that was sent to membership in July 2022.
The consultant team briefed the CPC on its initial survey analysis then presented to the Board its preliminary survey results where the board offered feedback. The CPC refined its recommendations during its meetings in October and November.
Revisions to tenets of the ICMA Code of Ethics require the approval of a majority of corporate members voting while the board has the authority to revise the guidelines. In December 2022, the board approved the CPC’s recommendation to place four changes to the tenets of the Code before the members for consideration. The CPC also provided recommended changes to the guidelines for the board’s consideration after the results of the member vote on the tenets were available.
An election to revise language in Tenets 1, 4, 9, and 11 was open March 1-31, 2023, to voting members. In early April 2023, ICMA canvassed 2,544 ballots cast. Via this special election ballot, 84% of corporate members approved the proposed changes. Notably, this special election holds the distinction of having the highest participation rate (31%) in ICMA’s online voting history. The board voted to approve the changes to the associated guidelines at its June 2023 meeting.
Applicable Tenets and Guidelines
Tenet 1. We believe professional management is essential to effective, efficient, equitable, and democratic local government.
Tenet 4. Serve the best interests of all community members.
Guideline on Effects of Decisions. Members should inform the appropriate elected or appointed official(s) of a decision's anticipated effects on community members.
Guideline on Promote Equity. Members should ensure fairness and impartiality in accessing programs and services and in the enforcement of laws and regulations. Members should assess and propose solutions to strive to eliminate disparities.
Tenet 9. Keep the community informed on local government affairs. Encourage and facilitate active engagement and constructive communication between community members and all local government officials.
Guideline on Engagement. Members should ensure community members can actively engage with their local government as well as eliminate barriers and support involvement of the community in the governance process.
Tenet 11. Manage all personnel matters with fairness and impartiality.
Guideline on Diversity and Inclusion. It is the member’s responsibility to recruit, hire, promote, retain, train, and support a diverse workforce at all levels of the organization.
Resources
- Race, Equity, and Social Justice Tools, Research, and Learning Opportunities
- Code of Ethics Review Focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
PM Magazine Articles
- The Profession’s Commitment to Equity and Justice (February 2022)
- Equity and Social Justice (August 2020)
- Ethical Leadership in the Time of COVID-19 (May 2020)
- Pay Attention to Ethics in the Hiring Process (May 2018)
- The Fundamental Connection (August 2017)
Because ICMA members hold positions of public trust, their conduct influences public confidence in the organization as well as in the local government management profession. Keep in mind that demonstrating the highest standard of personal and professional conduct requires a commitment that goes beyond what may be legally required.
For members working as managers, there is the added responsibility of understanding that their personal and professional conduct sets the ethical tone for the entire organization. Each of the articles below offers guidance and advice on strengthening this commitment to ethical leadership.
Applicable Tenets and Guidelines
Tenet 1. We believe professional management is essential to effective, efficient, equitable, and democratic local government.
Tenet 2. Affirm the dignity and worth of local government services and maintain a deep sense of social responsibility as a trusted public servant.
Tenet 3. Demonstrate by word and action the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity in all public, professional, and personal relationships in order that the member may merit the trust and respect of the elected and appointed officials, employees, and the public.
Guideline on Public Confidence. Members should conduct themselves so as to maintain public confidence in their position and profession, the integrity of their local government, and in their responsibility to uphold the public trust.
Tenet 8. Make it a duty continually to improve the member’s professional ability and to develop the competence of associates in the use of management techniques.
Guideline on Self-Assessment. Each member should assess his or her professional skills and abilities on a periodic basis.
Guideline on Professional Development. Each member should commit at least 40 hours per year to professional development activities that are based on the practices identified by the members of ICMA
PM Magazine Articles
- More Than Words: Your Communications Are a Reflection of Your Leadership (September 2023)
- Observations from the Balcony (June 2023)
- What’s on Your Wall? (May 2021)
- Do You Take the Code of Ethics for Granted? (December 2020)
- Ethical Leadership in the Time of COVID-19 (May 2020)
- Building an Ethical Culture (January 2020)
- Make Ethics Your Career Sidekick (April 2019)
- Ethical Blind Spots (March 2018)
- The Duty of Candor (October 2017)
- The Fundamental Connection (August 2017)
- Don't Let Your Goals Get in the Way of Your Ethics (March 2017)
- Cookingham’s Legacy (September 2016)
- Honor and Integrity (March 2016)
- Celebrate Ethical Conduct (February 2015)
- Creating Ethical Dilemmas for the Staff (March 2014)
- A Leader’s Three Levels of Ethical Responsibility (February 2014)
How a member represents his or her qualifications and experience on a resume and when applying for ICMA’s Voluntary Credentialed Manager program reflects on a member’s integrity. A member should always be sure his or her approach is consistent with the Tenet 3 guideline on credentials.
Members have been sanctioned for the following unethical conduct concerning the presentation of their professional and/or educational credentials:
- A member served 13 communities in 17 years and omitted some of those jobs and dates of employment from his resume that he submitted for a job opening.
- A manager falsified his educational credentials on the ICMA membership application, a resume for employment, and under oath during a deposition; applied for the ICMA Credentialed Manager designation when he knew his educational credentials were falsified and did not meet the requirements for the credential; failed to correct a falsification of his personnel file; and provided false documents in response to a media request for information about his credentials.
- A member misrepresented credentials in obtaining a position appointment by claiming he had earned a bachelor's degree from a college that does not confer those degrees.
- A member indicated on a job application that he had earned an MPA, but not all coursework had been completed to receive the diploma at the time of application. Inaccurate credentials led to excluding candidates with appropriate credentials from the employment process.
- A member applied for a manager position and omitted employment where he was fired, and claimed to have a degree and other educational experience that he did not possess.
Applicable Tenet and Guidelines
Tenet 3. Demonstrate by word and action the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity in all public, professional, and personal relationships in order that the member may merit the trust and respect of the elected and appointed officials, employees, and the public.
Guideline on Public Confidence. Members should conduct themselves so as to maintain public confidence in their position and profession, the integrity of their local government, and in their responsibility to uphold the public trust.
Guideline on Credentials. A member’s resume for employment or application for ICMA’s Voluntary Credentialing Program shall completely and accurately reflect the member’s education, work experience, and personal history. Omissions and inaccuracies must be avoided.
PM Magazine Article
ICMA promotes ethical conduct by providing confidential advice to members, offering insight on real world issues in Public Management (P.M.) magazine's monthly column, Ethics Matter!, and providing guidance to local government officials.
Topics of Interest
Access ethics advice along with real world examples published in P.M. magazine. Can't find your issue and in need of ethics advice? ICMA members can contact Jessica Cowles, ICMA's ethics director, at jcowles@icma.org.
Before making a commitment to a new professional opportunity, a member has the responsibility to thoroughly evaluate the position, organization, and community to determine whether it will be a good fit both personally and professionally.
Keeping your word is an essential part of demonstrating integrity, as outlined in Tenet 3, so members who accept an appointment to a position should report for that position. This does not preclude the possibility of a member considering multiple offers or seeking several positions at the same time, but once a bona fide offer of a position has been accepted, a member is expected to honor that commitment. ICMA considers oral acceptance of an employment offer binding unless the employer makes fundamental changes in terms of employment.
Members have been sanctioned for the following unethical conduct in the recruitment process:
- After successfully negotiating with the local government and giving a verbal acceptance of their offer, a member continued to interview for other positions.
- A member signed an offer letter from a local government then withdrew it to take a preferred position in another organization.
- After discussing and agreeing to the terms of compensation, a member verbally accepted an offer, then withdrew from the position after the organization announced that he would be the new manager.
- After a member negotiated and signed an employment agreement and the new community publicly announced the hire, the member decided to remain in his current position instead.
Applicable Tenet and Guideline:
Tenet 3. Demonstrate by word and action the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity in all public, professional, and personal relationships in order that the member may merit the trust and respect of the elected and appointed officials, employees, and the public.
Guideline on Appointment Commitment. Members who accept an appointment to a position should report to that position. This does not preclude the possibility of a member considering several offers or seeking several positions at the same time. However, once a member has accepted a formal offer of employment, that commitment is considered binding unless the employer makes fundamental changes in the negotiated terms of employment.
PM Magazine Articles:
Tenet 7 of the ICMA Code of Ethics draws a distinction between activities on behalf of a candidate for elected office (such activities are not permitted) and personal advocacy for issues (these are permitted). The Code recognizes a member can play a legitimate role in providing crucial information to governing bodies and the voters on the impact of ballot measures. The guidelines permit members to provide information and assistance with elections on the council-manager form of government and how to engage on issues of personal advocacy and/or interest.
A member may make financial contributions to issue-oriented political action committees, publicly express his or her views, and actively engage in debate and dialogue. As a member considers potential involvement, keep these points in mind:
- Know and comply with the law regarding use of public resources for ballot measures. Many states or jurisdictions prohibit the use of public time or resources on measures once they are formally placed on the ballot.
- Consider where the governing body stands on the issue. If governing body members are opposed or divided, a wise strategy would be to limit the effort to providing background information on the measure.
- Prepare a communication plan in advance for any ballot measures that are directly related to the local government. At a minimum, the communication plan should detail how information will be distributed to the public and what role staff will play (i.e., does the governing body expect staff to be an advocate, for or against, or be neutral; and what public resources will be devoted to the matter). Clarity at the beginning of the process will help to offset the possibility of misunderstandings.
- Caution is necessary even if a member decides to actively join the debate. A member should think carefully about what impact the issue involvement may have on the member’s ability to effectively serve the local government and community in both the short and long-term.
- If a manager feels compelled to raise funds for the measure, the manager should not ask employees to contribute because employees may not feel they are not free to decline the request given the manager’s supervisory role.
This advice is applicable for senior staff as well as the manager. Some members may feel the proper role for all staff is to provide information and then let the voters decide, while other members may take the approach that as professionals who have expertise in local government operations and a vested interest in the future of the community, it is an act of integrity on the part of leaders to make their voices heard.
Applicable Tenet and Guidelines
Tenet 7. Refrain from all political activities which undermine public confidence in professional administrators. Refrain from participation in the election of the members of the employing legislative body.
Guidelines:
Elections Relating to the Form of Government. Members may assist in preparing and presenting materials that explain the form of government to the public prior to a form of government election. If assistance is required by another community, members may respond.
Presentation of Issues. Members may assist their governing body in the presentation of issues involved in referenda such as bond issues, annexations, and other matters that affect the government entity’s operations and/or fiscal capacity.
Personal Advocacy of Issues. Members share with their fellow citizens the right and responsibility to voice their opinion on public issues. Members may advocate for issues of personal interest only when doing so does not conflict with the performance of their official duties.
