The law uses values and principles as the foundation for legislation. For example, the Constitution of the United States was built on ethical principles. However in regards to law, public administrators’ are expected to conduct themselves at least to the “moral minimum” standard set by law when faced with an ethical dilemma (Cooper, 2012, pg. 131). Public administrators should use ethics legislation and code of ethics as a reference point to understand what it means to behave ethically and what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Although these laws and codes set the desired standard of conduct, they cannot replace core public service values. Cooper states that laws and codes do not provide answers for public administrators when confronting specific, concrete situations; only a broad view of what it means to behave ethically. Public administrators use their discretions and must look to the organizational as well as their own values to resolve ethical dilemmas (Cooper, 2012, pg. …show more content…
Values are extremely powerful because they influence behavior and the way individuals treat others. There are various ways public administers can integrate public service values into their organizations and help them carry out the public’s interest, their day-to-day duties, effectively resolve ethical dilemmas, and maintain subordinate’s conduct. Public administrators have resorted to external controls like code of ethics, legislation ethics, personnel regulations; and internal controls like training, professional socialization, education, and exchanging ideas (Cooper, 2012, pg. 132). These approaches attempt to shape employees conduct, improve the decision-making process, promote an ethical environment, and encourage dissent from public servants within the