AIA- Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

Question 1

What are the three tiers of statements that the Code of Ethics is arranged in?

Answer 1

Canons
Ethical Standards
Rules of Conduct

Question 2

Canons

Answer 2

Canons are broad principles of conduct.

Question 3

Ethical Standards (E.S.)

Answer 3

Ethical Standards (E.S.) are more specific goals toward which Members should aspire in professional performance and behavior.

Question 4

Rules of Conduct (Rule)

Answer 4

Rules of Conduct (Rule) are mandatory; violation of a Rule is grounds for disciplinary action by the Institute. Rules of Conduct, in some instances, implement more than one Canon or Ethical Standard.

Question 5

The Code addresses responsibilities the architect must uphold in the practice of architecture. What are these responsibilities?

Answer 5

It addresses responsibilities to the public, to the clients; and users of architecture and in the building industries; and to the art and science of architecture.

Question 6

Name the AIA 5 broad principals of conduct- “Canons”.

Answer 6

I. General Obligations
II. Obligations to the Public
III. Obligations to the Client
IV. Obligations to the Profession
V. Obligations to Colleagues
VI. Obligations to the Environment

Question 7

CANON I - General Obligations

Answer 7

Members should maintain and advance their knowledge of the art and science of architecture, respect the body of architectural accomplishment, contribute to its growth, thoughtfully consider the social and environmental impact of their professional activities, and exercise learned and uncompromised professional judgment

Question 8

CANON II - Obligations to the Public

Answer 8

Members should embrace the spirit and letter of the law governing their professional affairs, and should promote and serve the public interest in their personal and professional activities.

Question 9

CANON III - Obligations to the Client

Answer 9

Members should serve their clients competently and in a professional manner, and should exercise unprejudiced and unbiased judgment when performing all professional services

Question 10

CANON IV - Obligations to the Profession

Answer 10

Members should uphold the integrity and dignity of the profession.

Question 11

CANON V - Obligations to Colleagues

Answer 11

Members should respect the rights and acknowledge the professional aspirations and contributions of their colleagues.

Question 12

CANON VI - Obligations to the Environment

Answer 12

Members should recognize and acknowledge the professional responsibilities they have to promote sustainable design and development in the natural and built environments and to implement energy and resource conscious design.

Question 13

E.S. 1.1 Knowledge and Skill:

Answer 13

Members should strive to improve their professional knowledge and skill.

Question 14

E.S. 1.2 Standards of Excellence:

Answer 14

Members should continually seek to raise the standards of aesthetic excellence, architectural education, research, training, and practice

Question 15

E.S. 1.3 Natural and Cultural Heritage:

Answer 15

Members should respect and help conserve their natural and cultural heritage while striving to improve the environment and the quality of life within it.

Question 16

E.S. 1.4 Human Rights:

Answer 16

Members should uphold human rights in all their professional endeavors.

Question 17

E.S. 1.5 Design for Human Dignity and the Health, Safety, and Welfare of the Public:

Answer 17

Members should employ their professional knowledge and skill to design buildings and spaces that will enhance and facilitate human dignity and the health, safety, and welfare of the individual and the public.

Question 18

E.S. 1.6 Allied Arts and Industries:

Answer 18

Members should promote allied arts and contribute to the knowledge and capability of the building industries as a whole

Question 19

E.S. 2.1 Conduct:

Answer 19

Members should uphold the law in the conduct of their professional activities.

Question 20

E.S. 2.2 Public Interest Services:

Answer 20

Members should render public interest professional services,
including pro bono services, and encourage their employees to
render such services. Pro bono services are those rendered
without expecting compensation, including those rendered for
indigent persons, after disasters, or in other emergencies.

Question 21

E.S. 2.3 Civic Responsibility:

Answer 21

Members should be involved in civic activities as citizens and professionals, and should strive to improve public appreciation and understanding of architecture and the functions and responsibilities of architects.

Question 22

E.S. 2.4 Environmental Equity and Justice

Answer 22

Members should promote fairness and safety in providing professional services and make reasonable efforts to advise their clients and employers of their obligations to the environment, including: access to clean air, water, sunlight and energy for all; sustainable production, extraction, transportation and consumption practices; a built environment that equitably supports human health and well-being and is resistant to
climate change; and restoring degraded or depleted natural resources.

Question 23

E.S. 3.1 Competence:

Answer 23

Members should serve their clients in a timely and competent manner.

Question 24

E.S. 3.2 Conflict of Interest:

Answer 24

Members should avoid conflicts of interest in their professional practices and fully disclose all unavoidable conflicts as they arise.

Question 25

E.S. 3.3 Candor and Truthfulness:

Answer 25

Members should be candid and truthful in their professional Communications and keep their clients reasonably informed about the clients’ projects.

Question 26

E.S. 3.4 Confidentiality:

Answer 26

Members should safeguard the trust placed in them by their clients.

Question 27

E.S. 4.1 Honesty and Fairness:

Answer 27

Members should pursue their professional activities with honesty and fairness.

Question 28

E.S. 4.2 Dignity and Integrity:

Answer 28

Members should strive, through their actions, to promote the dignity and integrity of the profession, and to ensure that their representatives and
employees conform their conduct to this Code.

Question 29

E.S. 5.1 Professional Environment:

Answer 29

Members should provide their colleagues and employees with a fair and equitable working environment, compensate them fairly, and facilitate their
professional development.

Question 30

E.S. 5.2 Intern and Professional Development:

Answer 30

Members should recognize and fulfill their obligation to nurture fellow professionals as they progress through all stages of their career, beginning with professional education in the academy, progressing through
internship and continuing throughout their career.

Question 31

E.S. 5.3 Professional Recognition:

Answer 31

Members should build their professional reputation on the merits of their own service and performance and should recognize and give credit to others for the professional work they have performed.

Question 32

E.S. 6.1 Energy conservation:

Answer 32

Members should set ambitious performance goals for greenhouse gas emission reduction with their clients for each project.

Question 33

E.S. 6.2 Water Use:

Answer 33

Members should optimize water conservation in each project to reduce water use and protect water supply, water quality, and watershed resources.

Question 34

E.S. 6.3 Building Materials:

Answer 34

Members should select and use building materials to minimize exposure to toxins and pollutants in the environment to promote environmental and human health and to reduce waste and pollution.

Question 35

E.S. 6.4 Ecosystems

Answer 35

Members should consider with their clients the impact of each project on the natural habitat and ecosystem to promote environmental and human health.

Question 36

E.S. 6.5 Climate Change

Answer 36

Members should incorporate adaptation strategies with their clients to anticipate extreme weather events and minimize adverse effects on the
environment, economy and public health.

Question 37

Rule 1.101

Answer 37

In practicing architecture, Members shall demonstrate a consistent pattern of reasonable care and competence, and shall apply the technical knowledge and skill which is ordinarily applied by architects of good standing practicing in the same locality.

Question 38

Rule 1.401

Answer 38

Members shall not engage in harassment or discrimination in their professional activities on the basis of race, religion, national origin, age, disability, caregiver status, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Question 39

Rule 1.402

Answer 39

Members shall not engage in conduct involving wanton disregard of the rights of others.

Question 40

Rule 2.101

Answer 40

Members shall not, in the conduct of their professional practice, knowingly violate the law.

Question 41

Rule 2.102

Answer 41

Members shall neither offer nor make any payment or gift to a public official with the intent of influencing the official’s judgment in connection with an existing or prospective project in which the Members are interested.

Question 42

Rule 2.103

Answer 42

Members serving in a public capacity shall not accept payments or gifts which are intended to influence their judgment.

Question 43

Rule 2.104

Answer 43

Members shall not engage in conduct involving fraud.

Question 44

Rule 2.105

Answer 44

If, in the course of their work on a project, the Members become aware of a decision taken by their employer or client which violates any law or regulation and which will, in the Members’ judgment, materially affect adversely the safety to the public of the finished project, the Members shall:
(a) advise their employer or client against the decision,
(b) refuse to consent to the decision, and
(c) report the decision to the local building inspector or other public official charged with the enforcement of the applicable laws and regulations, unless
the Members are able to cause the matter to be satisfactorily resolved by other means.

Question 45

Rule 2.106

Answer 45

Members shall not counsel or assist a client in conduct that the architect knows, or reasonably should know, is fraudulent or illegal.

Question 46

Rule 2.301

Answer 46

Members making public statements on architectural issues shall disclose when they are being compensated for making such statements or when they have an economic interest in the issue.

Question 47

Rule 2.401

Answer 47

When performing professional services, Members shall make reasonable efforts to inform their clients of the potential environmental impacts or
consequences the Member reasonably believes may occur as a result of work performed on behalf of the clients.

Question 48

Rule 3.101

Answer 48

In performing professional services, Members shall take into account applicable laws and regulations. Members may rely on the advice of other qualified persons as to the intent and meaning of such regulations.

Question 49

Rule 3.102

Answer 49

Members shall undertake to perform professional services only when they, together with those whom they may engage as consultants, are qualified by
education, training, or experience in the specific technical areas involved.

Question 50

Rule 3.103

Answer 50

Members shall not materially alter the scope or objectives of a project without the client’s consent.

Question 51

Rule 3.201

Answer 51

A Member shall not render professional services if the Member’s professional judgment could be affected by responsibilities to another project or person, or by the Member’s own interests, unless all those who rely on the Member’s judgment consent after full disclosure.

Question 52

Rule 3.202

Answer 52

When acting by agreement of the parties as the independent interpreter of building contract documents and the judge of contract performance, Members shall render decisions impartially.

Question 53

Rule 3.301

Answer 53

Members shall not intentionally or recklessly mislead existing or prospective clients about the results that can be achieved through the use of the Members’ services, nor shall the Members state that they can achieve results by means that violate applicable law or this Code.

Question 54

Rule 3.401

Answer 54

Members shall not knowingly disclose information that would adversely affect their client or that they have been asked to maintain in confidence, except as otherwise allowed or required by this Code or applicable law.

Question 55

Rule 4.101

Answer 55

Members having substantial information which leads to a reasonable belief that another Member has committed a violation of this Code which raises a serious question as to that Member’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a Member, shall file a complaint with the National Ethics Council.

Question 56

Rule 4.102

Answer 56

Members shall not sign or seal drawings, specifications, reports, or other professional work for which they do not have responsible control.

Question 57

Rule 4.103

Answer 57

Members speaking in their professional capacity shall not knowingly make false statements of material fact.

Question 58

Rule 4.201

Answer 58

Members shall not make misleading, deceptive, or false statements or claims about their professional qualifications, experience, or performance and shall accurately state the scope and nature of their responsibilities in connection with work for which they are claiming credit.

Question 59

Rule 4.202

Answer 59

Members shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that those over whom they have supervisory authority conform their conduct to this Code.

Question 60

Rule 5.101

Answer 60

Members shall treat their colleagues and employees with mutual respect, and provide an equitable working environment.

Question 61

Rule 5.201

Answer 61

Members who have agreed to work with individuals engaged in an architectural internship program or an experience requirement for licensure shall reasonably assist in proper and timely documentation in accordance with that program.

Question 62

Rule 5.301

Answer 62

Members shall recognize and respect the professional contributions of their employees, employers, professional colleagues, and business associates.

Question 63

Rule 5.302

Answer 63

Members leaving a firm shall not, without the permission of their employer or partner, take designs, drawings, data, reports, notes, or other materials relating to the firm’s work, whether or not performed by the Member.

Question 64

Rule 5.303

Answer 64

Member shall not unreasonably withhold permission from a departing employee or partner to take copies of designs, drawings, data, reports, notes, or other materials relating to work performed by the employee or
partner that are not confidential.

Question 65

Rule 6.501

Answer 65

Members shall consider with their clients the environmental effects of their project decisions.