Is ASPA's Code of Ethics Relevant and Practical?            March 2001

ASPA's Code of Ethics was adopted in 1984 and revised in 1994. As the second decade in the Code's evolution approaches, it might be asked: "Is the Code relevant and practical in 21st Century America?" This question seems especially pertinent in light of the "new" economy, globalization, the headlong rush, if not gush, of information technologies, and the growing appeal of embracing market-place practices in conducting the Nation's public affairs.

On the more practical side, is ASPA's Code simply too aspirational for everyday public managers? Consider the experience reported by Assistant Professor Russ Williams (rlw@DeanAS.MsState.Edu) at Mississippi State University.

Professor Williams distributed a copy of the Federal Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of
the Executive Branch (which was issued by President George H. W. Bush in Executive Order 12674--http://www.usoge.gov/exorders/eo12674.html--and codified in 5 CFR 2635 and re-issued by President George W. Bush on his first day in office) along with a copy of the ASPA Code of Ethics, to students in the MPA-level Human Resource Management he teaches. As Professor Williams says in his own words, "I questioned them (some of whom were practitioners) as to which of the two they felt would have the most meaning and value to them as public servants and administrators. All fifteen students (a tri-partisan group) chose the Standards of Ethical Conduct. They found the ASPA Code to be too aspirational."

Continuing, "This raised some interesting questions. As most know, the ASPA Code of Ethics has been moved from the back outside cover of PAR to the back inside cover, a place of virtual invisibility. (As an indication of this, I note that apparently no one has noticed the seven sections of part IV are misnumbered, since they have been that way since the 'new look' started.) Is this a signal regarding its real place in the organization? Would ASPA better serve its membership with something akin to the Federal Standards for a working 'code' that is of genuine use to practitioners and a separate statement of principles that enumerates broader organizational goals? Or should we maintain the status quo? What do we really expect from the ASPA Code of Ethics?"

What say ye members of the Society? Is ASPA's Code becoming irrelevant and impractical? Has it always been so?