Principles of Ethical Government
Principles of Ethical Government: Overview
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MWEG’s principles of ethical government are organized around three basic concepts:
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The government’s duty to adhere to the rule of law
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The human and civil rights of all people
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The civic duties and mutual accountability of people one toward another
Principles of Ethical Government 1(a), 1(b), 1(c): Combating Corruption
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As citizens, we must be able to identify both corruption and the proper use of government power — and be willing to use our voices and our votes to support those who would use entrusted power for the good of the people and to decry corruption.
Principles of Ethical Government 1(d): Freedom of the Press
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A free press is essential to ensuring governmental transparency and accountability. Government officials have a special duty to respect the independence of journalistic organizations
Principles of Ethical Government 2(a): Maximize Participation and Equitable Access
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​As citizens of such a democratic republic, we hold fast to our goals to 1) create a democracy that is responsible to all citizens and 2) to maximize citizen participation in the electoral process by identifying and abolishing obstacles to equitable access in that process.
Principles of Ethical Government 2(b): Minority Rights
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Special care should be taken to protect the rights of the minority from undue infringement by the majority.
Principles of Ethical Government 2(f): The Environment & Sustainability
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Governments and members of society have an obligation to exercise responsible stewardship of the earth, thereby protecting not only the wellbeing of their citizens, but also that of both future generations and other citizens of the planet.
Principles of Ethical Government 3(a): Media Literacy
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All individuals have a duty to educate themselves about the actions of government officials and current events in the world, taking care to ascertain facts from reliable sources of information
Principles of Ethical Government 3(d): Immigration
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People have moral responsibilities to provide succor and relief to their fellow human beings fleeing war, violence, persecution, and natural disasters, regardless of their race, nationality, or religion.
Principles of Ethical Government 3(f): Peaceful Protest & Civil Disobedience
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All people have a duty to obey the law. This duty does not, however, preclude the possibility of peaceful protest against and civil disobedience to unjust laws.
Principles of Ethical Government 3(g): Minority Rights
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When laws are unjust — especially when they violate the human and civil rights of vulnerable or marginalized groups — all citizens have an obligation to work toward reformation of those laws, whether or not they are directly harmed by those unjust laws.