POLS 3440 Chapter Notes - Chapter online article: Influence Peddling
2 Feb 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Conflict of interest a situation in which a person, such as a public official, an employee, or a professional, has a private or personal interest sufficient to appear to influence the objective exercise of their official duties. 3 key elements in this definition: there"s a private or personal interest. Problem comes when the private interest comes into conflict with the official duty: official duty. The obligations and responsibilities you have are supposed to trump private/personal interests: conflicts of interest interfere with professional responsibilities by interfering with objective professional judgment. Clients and employers expect professionals to be objective and independent. Self-dealing: work for government and use your official position to secure a contract for a private consulting company you own. Accepting benefits: bribery or substantial (non-token) gifts. Influence peddling: the professional solicits benefits in exchange for using her influence to unfairly advance the interests of a particular party.
