Question 1

The appearance of impropriety is often at issue in government ethics cases.

Accepted Answer

The appearance of impropriety refers to situations where actions may not be unethical but could be perceived as such, which is a common concern in government ethics to maintain public trust.

Question 2

Mr. Wolfowitz was forced to resign because of his participation in a performance evaluation.

Accepted Answer

Mr. Wolfowitz was forced to resign because of his involvement in a romantic relationship with an employee who worked for him, not because of his participation in a performance evaluation.

Question 3

Rep. Charlie Rangel stepped down from his chairmanship as ethics charges were pending.

Accepted Answer

Rep. Charlie Rangel temporarily stepped down from his position as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee in March 2010 amid pending ethics investigations.

Question 4

A division of Ohio state government ran a check on "Joe the Plumber" after he asked then-presidential candidate Barack Obama a question about redistribution of wealth.

Accepted Answer

In 2008, after Joe Wurzelbacher, known as "Joe the Plumber," questioned Barack Obama about his tax policies, it was revealed that state employees in Ohio improperly accessed his personal information.

Question 5

The head of a regulatory agency cannot accept free tickets from a company the agency regulates.

Accepted Answer

Accepting free tickets from a company the agency regulates can create a conflict of interest or the appearance of impropriety. The head of a regulatory agency should maintain impartiality and avoid any potential biases.

Question 6

A member of the city council who is employed by a waste management firm would have a conflict of interest in voting on the city's award of a contract for the handling of the city's waste.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a potential conflict of interest, as the city council member's employment with a waste management firm creates a financial interest in the award of the contract. It would be inappropriate for them to vote on this matter.

Question 7

You work for a school district as a facilities coordinator. You drive to the various schools in the district and supervise construction and remodeling and assess various building needs. When you are traveling around to the various schools, you use a district vehicle that is clearly marked as such. One day you stop at the country club and have lunch before heading to the next school since the country club is on the way. You also stop at the bank drive-thru teller to do some personal banking business. Both the lunch and the bank stop are ethical breaches.

Accepted Answer

Using a district vehicle for personal errands or stopping at a country club during work hours is a misuse of district resources and is considered an ethical breach.

Question 8

IRS employees cannot use data they obtain through files for private purposes.

Accepted Answer

IRS employees are prohibited from using taxpayer information for personal gain or private purposes, as it is protected by privacy laws and regulations.

Question 9

The mayor owns property next to one of the proposed sites for the city's new baseball stadium. The mayor has a conflict of interest and should not vote on the location of the stadium when the city council takes action on the site.

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes a conflict of interest for the mayor, and it is generally considered unethical and potentially illegal for public officials to vote on issues that could personally benefit them. Therefore, the mayor should not vote on the location of the stadium.

Question 10

A newspaper reporter is interviewing you about your experiences in working for a member of Congress. You have indicated you have information about his private life but will not share it. The reporter responds, "Tell me, just between you and me." You share the information and a quote from you on the private life of the member of Congress appears in the newspaper the next day. The reporter was unethical in violating a trust.

Accepted Answer

As a journalist, it is important to maintain ethical standards and not violate the trust of sources. In this scenario, the reporter went against the agreement with the interviewee and shared the private information, which is unethical.

Question 11

A state education department administrator cannot award a contract to a company in which he holds an ownership interest.

Accepted Answer

This is because it would be a conflict of interest and could potentially violate ethics laws and regulations.

Question 12

A county commissioner who makes decisions on construction permits and zoning exceptions and approaches a hotel builder to lease space for her clothing store in his new hotel while his application for zoning and construction are pending has done nothing unethical.

Accepted Answer

This is a clear conflict of interest and a violation of ethical principles. The county commissioner has used her position of power to benefit herself personally, which undermines the impartiality and fairness required of public officials.

Question 13

A regulator who represented a company just prior to taking office cannot preside over administrative hearings involving the company.

Accepted Answer

This is known as the "revolving door" rule, which prohibits government officials from participating in matters involving their former employers or clients for a certain period of time after leaving private employment.

Question 14

A judge whose wife is representing a defendant cannot serve as the trial judge in the case.

Accepted Answer

This is due to a conflict of interest, as the judge's impartiality could be called into question if their spouse is representing one of the parties involved in the case.

Question 15

You are a building inspector for the county. A friend of yours is a plumbing contractor. Under county regulations, all steps in plumbing construction from the initial dig to the final installation of sink and bathroom fixtures requires an inspection sign-off. Your plumbing contractor friend has just called and wants to take you to dinner for your birthday at a five-star restaurant. Because you are friends anyway, the dinner presents no ethical problems.

Accepted Answer

This situation presents a conflict of interest and a violation of professional ethics. As a building inspector, it is not appropriate to accept gifts or favors from contractors or other parties with an interest in the inspections you conduct. It could compromise your impartiality and raise concerns about the integrity of the inspection process.

Question 16

The city employee who manages the finances for a football stadium that is a joint venture between the city and the football team can accept tickets, dinners, and team clothing items without raising conflicts issues.

Accepted Answer

Accepting gifts from a party with whom you have a business relationship can create a conflict of interest, as it could be seen as an attempt to influence the employee's decision-making. Even though the gifts may seem small, they can still sway the employee's judgment, and compromise the integrity of their role as a financial manager.

Question 17

A state employee who is making a decision on the medical insurer for the state must disqualify herself if her spouse works for the insurer.

Accepted Answer

This situation creates a conflict of interest, and the state employee should recuse themselves from the decision-making process in order to ensure impartiality and fairness.

Question 18

Rep. Charlie Rangel was convicted of a crime.

Accepted Answer

Rep. Charlie Rangel was not convicted of a crime; he was found guilty of ethics violations by the House Ethics Committee in 2010, but this is not the same as a criminal conviction.

Question 19

The Ohio state government acted properly when it ran a records check on "Joe the Plumber" after he asked then presidential candidate Barack Obama a question.

Accepted Answer

The Ohio state government faced criticism for improperly accessing confidential information about "Joe the Plumber" without a legitimate reason, raising concerns about privacy violations.

Question 20

IRS employees commit an ethical violation when they go through others' income tax returns.

Accepted Answer

IRS employees are bound by confidentiality and privacy laws, and accessing tax returns without a legitimate reason is considered an ethical violation.

Quiz 9: Ethics and Government