Importance of Ethics in Public Administration

What are some reasons that public administrators should study ethics?

There are several reasons why a public administrator should study ethics. One of the main reasons is that ethics can help public administrators to make faster decisions. According to Starling (2009) a person who can clarified his or her own values do not lose time wondering what to do when confronted with decisions involving conflicting values. Having the certainty that they are making the right decision makes the decision making process for public administrators to be moving at a fast pace. Moreover, the study of ethics leads to greater consistency when public administrators make decisions. Public administrators should be able to make decisions adhering to the same principles.

Most of the time, individuals look for a way to force the government to compensate them for the losses and injuries suffered by an administrative action. However, individuals are not able to sue the government for a damage caused by a wrong administrative action because a doctrine enables it. Government possess the doctrine of sovereign immunity which is the principle that the government may not be sued without its consent. (Starling, 2009). Therefore, government is protected for civil suits if somebody is affected due to an administrative action. As Justice Holmes explained, sovereign immunity is an important doctrine because there can be no legal right as against the authority that makes the law on which the right depends (Starling, 2009). However, there are especial occasion when the government is able to be sued. The Federal Tort and Claims Act (FTCA) allows the government to be sued by rendering the government liable in tort for any negligent or wrongful act in the same manner as a private individual under like circumstances (Starling, 2009). On the other hand, official immunity refers to the doctrine that prohibits individuals to file suits to federal employees for an act performed within the “outer perimeter” of his or her line of duty (Starling, 2009). This doctrine was develop with the purpose to make public officials feel free to make the best decision when it come to the public interest and not feel fear of being sued if in case an individual suffers an injury or a loss during the process. However, government officials do not have absolute immunity from liability for damage. They can be sued for actions that violate statutory limits on their authority or that violate constitutional limits of their authority (Starling,