Which principle emphasizes accountability in public service?

Which principle emphasizes accountability in public service?

• A. Public interest
• B. Objective judgment
• C. Accountability
• D. Respectability

Answer: (C)

Accountability in public service means public servants are answerable to the people and to oversight bodies for their actions, decisions, and how they use public resources. It involves transparency, the ability to explain and justify decisions, and consequences when standards aren’t met. This focus on answerability and responsibility is what makes accountability the best fit for the prompt, because the term directly denotes the obligation to account for actions and outcomes to the public. Other options describe related ideas but not the same emphasis. Public interest is about serving the common good, objective judgment highlights impartial and fair decision-making, and respectability concerns proper conduct and reputation. While these are important in public service, they don’t center on being answerable in the way accountability does.

Accountability in public service means public servants are answerable to the people and to oversight bodies for their actions, decisions, and how they use public resources. It involves transparency, the ability to explain and justify decisions, and consequences when standards aren’t met. This focus on answerability and responsibility is what makes accountability the best fit for the prompt, because the term directly denotes the obligation to account for actions and outcomes to the public.

Other options describe related ideas but not the same emphasis. Public interest is about serving the common good, objective judgment highlights impartial and fair decision-making, and respectability concerns proper conduct and reputation. While these are important in public service, they don’t center on being answerable in the way accountability does.