The course will examine the principles, regulations, and laws that serve as guideposts for and drive the ethical conduct of "public officials." The rules are based on the general goal that a government which the public believes is acting ethically, is one in which it will have confidence and to which is gives legitimacy and credibility. The course will examine how the federal government (both houses of Congress and the Executive Branch and its agencies), state government (in particular, New York State but other states, as well - brief mention of rules governing judicial conduct), and localities try to achieve these ends. The goal of the course will be to provide a very practical, usable understanding of what is and what is not and what may not be ethical behavior.
