Ethics laws, which prescribe and prohibit certain behavior for public officials, have been enacted in response to recent scandals in federal and state government. These laws focus on methods which include financial disclosure, defining and prohibiting behaviors such as conflict of interest, and restricting private sector employment in matters directly related to public life. While these laws have some benefits, such as providing more information to the public about elected and appointed officials, they do not go far enough either to define, or prevent, unethical behavior. This paper suggests that a broader approach, focusing on specific actions of public officials, would be a better way to prevent unethical behavior in the public sector.
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