Ethics and Accountability

Democracies require openness and honesty in government. This means government policymaking and institutions function in public view. In addition, elected officials and government employees must operate without conflicts of interest. They should disclose, mitigate, and, if necessary, recuse themselves when their public duties may create a conflict of interest. Blind trusts are one way to address financial conflicts. Government officials use blind trusts to allow an independent third party to manage their assets without their knowledge or consent. This can help ethically balance private interests with public duties.