Ch 15. Public Accountability Laws

Question 1

___ are a diverse group of statutes, regulations, ordinances, executive orders, and occasionally constitutional and charter provisions, whose fundamental purpose is to foster integrity in government and promote public confidence. (508)

Answer 1

Public accountability laws

Question 2

A generalized term referring to a situation in which someone has a potential or actual conflict between the responsibilities imposed by law- by virtue of the person’s office or position- and some other duty or interest he or she may have, whether it be financial, business, family, or otherwise. (509)

Answer 2

Conflict of interest

Question 3

From the perspective of public perception, the ___ of a conflict of interest can be as harmful as an actual conflict. (509)

Answer 3

appearance

Question 4

The purpose of ___ laws is to manage conflicts that do arise in a way that is ethically appropriate. (509)

Answer 4

conflict of interest

Question 5

___ go beyond addressing conflicts of interest and involve matters such as the acceptance of gifts, purchasing procedures, employment practices, and governmental decision-making. They go so far as to regulate the conduct of public officials and public employees on the job, after hours, in their off-duty employment, and after they leave public service. (509)

Answer 5

Ethics codes

Question 6

___ establish comprehensive guidelines for the conduct of public officials and employees, often addressing conflicts of interest as well. (510)

Answer 6

Ethics codes

Question 7

Codes of ethics may be adopted at the state level, but are more commonly adopted at the ___ level. (511)

Answer 7

local

Question 8

Conflicts of interest are considered to be worse when ___. (512)

Answer 8

undisclosed or concealed

Question 9

Officials disclose potential conflicts of interest by filing a public disclosure form with ___. (512)

Answer 9

the state ethics commission or other appropriate state agency

Question 10

___ investigates civil violations of state ethics laws, while ___ oversees any criminal investigation. (512)

Answer 10

the state ethics commission; the attorney general or district attorney

Question 11

Open meetings and open records laws are often referred to as ___. (513)

Answer 11

“sunshine laws”

“Freedom of information laws” by a few

Question 12

___ require that public bodies meet and deliberate in an open public forum. (514)

Answer 12

Open meetings laws

Question 13

Deliberations and verbal exchanges of views must be conducted in public in the context of ___. (518)

Answer 13

a formal meeting

Question 14

Conference calls or teleconferencing with a quorum of board members constitutes ___ under open meetings laws. (519)

Answer 14

a meeting

Question 15

Where the open meetings law applies, m there are 2 basic requirements: (520)

Answer 15

1) there must be advanced notice of any meeting.

2) all business must be conducted in the open meeting, unless a specific exemption exists.

Question 16

Open meetings laws allow the public to be present, but do not require ___. (520)

Answer 16

that the public be allowed to participate

Question 17

The reasons for a public body to meet in executive session are limited and listed ___. (522)

Answer 17

in the open meetings law

Question 18

___ give the public access to many fire department records and documents. (523)

Answer 18

Open records laws

Question 19

Open meetings laws do not mandate ___. (522)

Answer 19

public participation

Question 20

Generally, open records laws apply to (who) ___. (523)

Answer 20

all state and local governmental offices and agencies

Question 21

Open records laws apply to (what) ___. (525)

Answer 21

all materials that are created by a governmental agency or that are received by a governmental agency, pursuant to a law or ordinance, or in connection with the transaction of official business.

Question 22

Individuals who expose some governmental or industry wrongdoing. (526)

Answer 22

“whistleblower”

Question 23

A ___ is a part of a law that prohibits discrimination or retaliation against anyone who files a complaint, supports a complaint, testifies on behalf of someone who files a complaint or who otherwise takes an action under the specific law. (527)

Answer 23

whistleblower provision

Question 24

___ are intended to improve and enhance public confidence in government. (528)

Answer 24

public accountability laws