Ethics for Contemporary Bureaucrats

In the current United States (U.S.) context, we are facing a constitutional crisis with frequent government shutdowns and new debates surrounding immigration, climate change, budgeting practices, and the balance of power. With competing interests, unclear policy, and inconsistent leadership directives, the question becomes: How do contemporary bureaucrats make sense of this ethically turbulent environment? This collection provides a lens for viewing administrative decision-making and behavior from a constitutional basis, as contemporary bureaucrats navigate uncharted territory.

Ethics for Contemporary Bureaucrats is organized around three constitutional values: freedom, property, and social equity. These themes are based on emerging trends in public administration and balanced with traditional ethical models. Each chapter provides an overview of a contemporary ethical issue, identifies key actors, institutions, legal and legislative policy, and offers normative and practical recommendations to address the challenges the issue poses. Rooted in a respected and time-tested intellectual history, this volume speaks to bureaucrats in a modern era of governance. It is ideally suited to educate students, scholars, and public servants on constitutional values and legal precedent as a basis for ethics in the public sector.

Nicole M. Elias, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Public Management at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY and Founding Co-Director of Women in the Public Sector. Her research focuses on social equity in public administration and policy, with an emphasis on ethics of administration, management of human resources in public organizations, and public policy impacts on different populations. She regularly collaborates with practitioners in government agencies and non-profit organizations. She is a research partner with the New York City Commission on Gender Equity. Dr. Elias held a research fellowship at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Office, U.S. Department of Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI), and served as the Lead Faculty Advisor to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management on the 2016 Government-wide Inclusive Diversity Strategic Plan. Dr. Elias is the author of numerous journal articles, book chapters, government reports, and practitioner training modules on means of fostering greater representation and inclusion in public service.

Amanda M. Olejarski, PhD, is the Department Chair and MPA Director at West Chester University and teaches graduate and doctoral courses in public policy and administration. Her research has been published in Public administration Review, American Review of Public Administration, Administration & Society, among others. She is the author of two books on ethical decision-making. Olejarski serves as Immediate Past President of the Keystone State ASPA Chapter, chair of NASPAA’s Pi Alpha Alpha Committee, and managing editor of Public Integrity.
Originally from New Jersey, she lives in King of Prussia, PA with her husband, sons, and rescue cats. She enjoys gardening and Wawa.