Both Public Servants and Residents Are Responsible for Promoting Accountability in Government

Huling argues that both public servants and residents in the US are responsible for promoting accountability in government. The American character has a suspicion of government, serving as a defense against potential abuses of political power. Americans have a history of being unruly and resisting i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPM. Public Management Vol. 105; no. 3; pp. 18 - 20
Main Author Huling, Michael
Format Trade Publication Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Washington International City/County Management Association 01.03.2023
Subjects
Accountability
Citizenship
Civil society
Community
Corruption
Federalism
Government
Individualism
Political power
Politics
Public administration
Puritanism
Responsibilities
United Kingdom > UK
England
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Summary:Huling argues that both public servants and residents in the US are responsible for promoting accountability in government. The American character has a suspicion of government, serving as a defense against potential abuses of political power. Americans have a history of being unruly and resisting illegitimate claims of authority. Those who betray the public's trust should be held accountable, requiring citizens to assert their sovereignty. However, their actions often fail to promote accountability, as they either demand perfection or dismiss corruption as the norm. Instead, they should have reasonable expectations of public servants, such as honesty, transparency, responsibility, and prudence. Public servants should prioritize the common good over personal interests, and corruption should disqualify individuals from public service. It is also crucial for public servants to hold each other accountable and prevent corruption.
ISSN:0033-3611