Standard F Narrative
A thorough understanding of ethics is essential for a local government employee. Local government officials need to work at the highest ethical level, and the MPA program emphasizes this through the CPAP coursework. Local government involves many complex problems that managers must be able to address. A poor understanding of ethics can lead to public distrust and an inability to govern. A thorough understanding of ethical principles is at the center of good governance.
Artifact I Narrative
Artifact I, “Ethic of Conviction vs. Ethic of Responsibility," is the final paper written in PAPA 6414 Normative Foundations for Dr. Eric Malczewski, satisfying performance objectives one and three. Part one of the paper focuses on accurately understanding the normative foundations of public administration found in Max Weber’s “Profession and Vocation of Politics.”, specifically the Ethic of Conviction, the Ethic of Responsibility, and the tension between them. Both of these rationales are used to justify the actions of political leaders and should be understood by political leaders, including public servants, in order to evaluate and understand the justifications for their own actions. A thorough understanding of the nature of politics and normative foundations gives an ethical basis for decision-making, engaging in ethical reasoning, and CPAP’s promotion of good governance.
Artifact II Narrative
Artifact II is part two of the final paper for the Normative Foundations course with Dr. Eric Malczewski, satisfying Standard E: Objectives One and Three. Having established an understanding of normative foundations, this paper examines the potential danger of an unchecked charismatic leader and suggests research avenues to learn how voter education might impact the importance of political charisma in voter choice. Applying Max Weber's framework of a charismatic leader to a contemporary setting, I make an argument that the American political action has overemphasized charismatic behavior, and as questions about the relationship between voter education and the emphasis of charisma on their vote.
Artifact III Narrative
Artifact III, “Political Ambition,” and "Fire File" are a pair of case studies from PAPA 6154 with Anthony Romanello, satisfying Standard F: Objectives Two and Three. For these assignments, students were asked to apply ethical reasoning to challenging ethical and personnel situations in local government and justify their actions and recommendations based on leadership theories, in-class teaching, and texts. Many of these texts used the International City/County Association Code of Ethics as a resource and justification for the recommendations made. Using complex ethical reasoning to make recommendations for real cases while still in school through case studies allows me to enter the workplace more prepared and capable of conducting good governance.
Stephanie Day
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