ICMA has a longstanding commitment to equity and social justice and to ensuring the Code of Ethics reflects the values of the profession in advancing the best interests of all community members. The following provides information on the current review effort with the membership to better integrate our commitment to equity and social justice into the language of the Code, along with a history of changes to the Code since 1924.
This page contains information on ICMA’s efforts to review the Code of Ethics with membership. Use the drop-down feature below to access information on each of these topics.
- ICMA’S CODE REVIEW FOCUSING ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (2020-PRESENT)
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Ensuring that the language in the Code of Ethics reflects the values of the profession has been a well-established priority with numerous revision efforts over the years since membership adopted the first version of the Code in 1924. As background, the tenets express the values of the profession while the guidelines assist members in understanding their ethical obligations as outlined in the tenet. When ICMA sanctions a member for conduct that violated the Code, this is based on the finding that the member’s conduct did not uphold the principle in the tenet. ICMA’s Constitution requires that a majority of members vote by ballot to make any changes to the language of the tenets in the Code. The ICMA Executive Board has the authority to revise guidelines to the tenets, and this usually occurs based on a recommendation from the Committee on Professional Conduct (CPC).
Creating better communities around the world begins with a commitment to equity and inclusion. ICMA has a longstanding commitment to ensuring its members and the overall profession reflect the diversity of the people the members and profession serve. A complete history of ICMA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion can be viewed on this page.
In June 2020, the board issued a statement on systemic racism that included several action steps ICMA would take with one action step specific to ethics:
“The local government management profession and ICMA were founded on a Code of Ethics and a Declaration of Ideals, which demand that we serve the best interests of all, achieve equity and social justice, and act with integrity so that we may earn the trust of all those we serve. Addressing systemic racism is our ethical obligation.
We will revisit our Code of Ethics to better integrate our ethical commitment to racial justice and equity into the very fiber of the 12 tenets.”
The board’s Committee on Professional Conduct (CPC) is implementing this ethics action step on behalf of the board. The CPC recommended engaging a third-party consultant to objectively assess the Code with membership as the most expedient, unbiased, and inclusive route. The board approved the CPC’s approach in December 2020.
Scope of this review
ICMA selected the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Government as a consultant for this review effort in May 2021. The project scope of work involves the following:
- Conduct an environmental scan to learn how other professional associations are addressing equity and racial justice in their codes.
- Convene focus groups to help shape a survey for the membership.
- Facilitate member discussions: in-person meetings and virtual sessions as needed.
- Develop a survey to send to all members to gauge ways to strengthen the Code’s commitment to equity and social justice and the ethical responsibility of members to serve the best interests of everyone living in their communities.
- Prepare a report for the CPC/board summarizing recommended changes to the Code.
- Develop a member communications strategy for any proposed Code changes.
Definitions
ICMA recognizes that there are many definitions for key DEI terms. UNC recommended the following definitions to use during feedback sessions and in the member feedback survey:
- Diversity is the condition of including and involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc., and empowering people by respecting and appreciating differences.
- Equity means fairness that is achieved by recognizing that each person has different characteristics and circumstances and, therefore, resources may need to be allocated differently depending on those circumstances and characteristics in order to ensure that processes and outcomes (both intended and unintended) are fair and disparities in conditions and outcomes are addressed.
- Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities.
- Inclusion refers to organizational efforts and practices (intentional acts) in which different groups or individuals having different backgrounds are culturally and socially accepted and welcomed and equally treated.
- Engagement includes actions that encourage active involvement of residents in community governance.
- Social Justice means a commitment to assure that fair and equal treatment, full exercise of rights, and opportunity to participate in public affairs are promoted for all groups in society. Social justice is advanced by actions that promote equity, diversity, inclusion, and engagement.
Review
The consultant team facilitated the first set of focus groups with members in August 2021. Two in-person meetings occurred in October 2021 during the annual conference in Portland, Oregon. More than 75 members gathered to provide feedback on ways to better integrate the profession’s ethical commitment to social justice and racial equity in the Code.
The board has emphasized the importance of hearing the perspectives of as many members as possible, so ICMA continued the dialogue with multiple opportunities (virtual and in-person) in 2022. ICMA facilitated conversations during the 2022 ICMA Regional Conferences, several state association meetings, and held three virtual meetings open to all members. Overall, ICMA facilitated 17 feedback sessions (virtually or in person).
ICMA thanks the 600 members who have participated in feedback sessions over the course of nine months (October 2021-June 2022) to share their invaluable perspectives. The discussions focused on four tenets and some of the corresponding guidelines that participating members identified as most relevant to the profession’s continued commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that shaped the survey that was sent to the membership on July 12, 2022.
From July 12 to 29, ICMA members were invited to complete a feedback survey on potential revisions to the ICMA Code of Ethics as it relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion. ICMA thanks the 2,142 members who completed the survey. Members submitted over 2,800 comments and offered constructive feedback.
The results from the survey shaped the next phases of the review effort. ICMA’s consultants on this project from the University of North Carolina School of Government summarized the survey responses and written comments and presented their preliminary analysis to the ICMA Executive Board in September 2022. The survey feedback was constructive and informative. The CPC used that information to develop the final set of proposed changes.
In December 2022, the ICMA Executive Board approved the recommendation of the CPC to place four changes to the tenets of the Code before the members for consideration. The CPC also provided recommended changes to the guidelines for the board’s consideration after the results of the member vote on the tenets are available.
The changes affect Tenets 1, 4, 9, and 11 of the Code, along with associated guidelines. While members will not be asked to approve the guidelines, as that is the role of the board, there is contextual value in seeing both the proposed tenets and guidelines. A brief summary of the basis for each recommendation is included.
Special Election on the ICMA Code of Ethics
From March 1-31, 2023, members with voting privileges had the opportunity to vote yes or no on the proposed changes to Tenets 1, 4, 9, and 11. In addition to the summary presented here to explain the recommendations, members were encouraged to read the entire report from ICMA’s consultant partner on the project, the School of Government at the University of North Carolina. The report includes the complete findings of their work, along with the survey results, including the member comment section.
On April 7, 2023, ICMA canvassed 2,544 ballots cast (2,533 online and 11 by mail) by ICMA Corporate members who are eligible to vote based on the criteria outlined in ICMA’s Constitution. Via this special election ballot open March 1 - March 31,2023, Corporate members approved the proposed changes to Tenets 1, 4, 9 and 11 of the ICMA Code of Ethics. Notably, this special election holds the distinction of having the highest participation rate in ICMA’s online voting history (31.62%).
Revisions to tenets of the ICMA Code of Ethics require the approval of a majority of Corporate members voting. The ICMA Executive Board has the authority to revise the guidelines and will review the Committee on Professional Conduct’s recommended changes to the associated guidelines at its June 2023 board meeting.
Per ICMA’s Constitution, three Corporate members served on the Canvassing Committee to witness the vote tally and certify the election results: Ann Marie Townshend, city manager, City of Lewes, Delaware; Martha Paige, town manager, Town of Morrisville, North Carolina; and Matt Mueller, town manager, Town of Little Elm, Texas.
View the Special Election Results
View the newly revised, frameable version of the ICMA Code of Ethics (tenets only).
Code of Ethics (suitable for framing)
Questions
For frequently asked questions about the proposed changes to Tenets 1, 4, 9, or 11, visit the FAQ page.
Members with questions about the changes to Tenets 1, 4, 9 and 11 can contact Jessica Cowles, ethics advisor at 202-962-3513 and jcowles@icma.org; or Martha Perego, managing director of member services and ethics at 202-962-3668 and mperego@icma.org.
- FAQ ON PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CODE
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The FAQ is a compilation of questions received by ICMA.
In addition, this article provides a comprehensive summary on the changes to the ICMA Code of Ethics.
- ARTICLES AND RESOURCES
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- 2023 ICMA Special Election Results on the ICMA Code of Ethics
- The Profession’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Proposed Changes to ICMA’s Code of Ethics
- ETHICS MATTER! Equity and Social Justice
- ETHICS MATTER! Being Politically Neutral in a Partisan World
- ETHICS MATTER! The Profession’s Commitment to Equity and Justice
- Equity and Inclusion in the Strategic Plan
- ICMA Executive Board Statement Regarding Systemic Racism
- PM Special Supplement on Racial and Social Justice
- Race, Equity, and Social Justice Tools, Research, and Resources
- Survey Opens Today on Potential Revisions to the ICMA Code of Ethics
- Thanks for Feedback on Potential Revisions to the Code of Ethics
- UPDATE: ICMA Code of Ethics Review Focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- STRUCTURED CODE REVIEW EFFORT (2013-2020)
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In February 2013, the ICMA Executive Board approved the Committee on Professional Conduct’s (CPC) plan to engage the membership in a structured review of the Code to ensure its continued relevance for all working in service to a local government. ICMA’s Constitution requires a majority of members vote by ballot to make any changes to the language of the tenets in the Code. The board has the authority to revise guidelines to the tenets, and this usually occurs due to a recommendation from the Committee on Professional Conduct (CPC).
Through this process, Tenets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 12 and/or their respective guidelines were reviewed and revised. Detailed information about these changes to the Code is summarized below:
2014. This structured review began with Tenet 12. In conversations with the membership, the overwhelming feedback was Tenet 12, as written, used archaic language, and seemed to present two disconnected principles. The old language “Seek no favor; believe that personal aggrandizement or profit secured by confidential information or by misuse of public time is dishonest” was replaced with “Public office is a public trust. A member shall not leverage his or her position for personal gain or benefit.”
2017. Tenet 3, last revised in 1976, is one of two tenets that applies to all members (the other is Tenet 1). In reviewing Tenet 3, the focus was to redraft the language to ensure it is relevant to a membership that is substantially broader than it was in 1976. In the revised language, the commitment to integrity was retained but made more action oriented. A new guideline on personal relationships in the workplace was added. The existing guideline under Tenet 12, which addresses personal relationships that create conflicts of interest, was expanded to further explain what constitutes a conflict of interest.
2018. Tenet 4 was first added to the Code in 1952 as: "The city manager keeps the community informed on municipal affairs. He emphasizes friendly and courteous service to the public. He recognizes that the chief function of the local government at all times is to serve the best interests of all the people on a non-partisan basis." It was revised in 1972 to read, “Recognize that the chief function of local government at all times is to serve the best interests of all of the people.”
2019. Tenets 1 and 2 had not been substantively revised since their addition to the Code in 1969 and that language had stated:
- Tenet 1. Be dedicated to the concepts of effective and democratic local government by responsible elected officials and believe that professional general management is essential to the achievement of this objective.
- Tenet 2. Affirm the dignity and worth of the services rendered by government and maintain a constructive, creative, and practical attitude toward local government affairs and a deep sense of social responsibility as a trusted public servant.
Members approved maintaining the original intent through streamlined tenet language in October 2019:
- Tenet 1. We believe professional management is essential to efficient and democratic local government by elected officials.
- Tenet 2. Affirm the dignity and worth of local government services and maintain a deep sense of social responsibility as a trusted public servant.
Following membership approval of the revisions, in June 2020, the board approved the addition of the phrase “in order to uphold local government professionalism” to the existing Tenet 2 guideline on advice to officials of other local governments to explicitly state the reason for providing this notification to a colleague.
2020. Tenets 5 and 6 were last revised in 1972 and that language had stated:
- Tenet 5. Submit policy proposals to elected officials; provide them with facts and advice on matters of policy as a basis for making decisions and setting community goals; and uphold and implement local government policies adopted by elected officials.
- Tenet 6. Recognize that elected representatives of the people are entitled to the credit for the establishment of local government policies; responsibility for policy execution rests with the members.
Tenets 5 and 6 were reviewed at the same time because they both addressed aspects of the policy recommendation and decision-making process and focused on a member’s role in implementing a governing body’s decisions.
The changes membership approved to Tenet 5 included the addition of providing technical and professional advice about policy options to elected officials and updated the language to highlight the member’s role in collaborating with elected officials to set goals for the community and organization. Tenet 5 currently states, “Submit policy proposals to elected officials; provide them with facts, and technical and professional advice about policy options; and collaborate with them in setting goals for the community and organization.”
The Tenet 5 guideline referencing a potential conflict by serving as both the city manager and city attorney had not been updated since 1972. The CPC recommended to the board reframing the issue beyond the narrow example given to address situations where there could be a conflict by virtue of holding two positions within the same organization or externally and that members have an obligation to disclose and disengage to the greatest extent possible. The board approved this change as well as the CPC’s recommendation to move the conflicting roles guideline to Tenet 3, where it is now aligned with the existing guidelines on conflicts of interest.
The revision to Tenet 6 better reflected the decisions elected officials make are not limited only to policy adoption, elected officials are accountable to the people for those decisions, and members remain responsible for implementing those decisions. Tenet 6 was amended to state, “Recognize that elected representatives are accountable to their community for the decisions they make; members are responsible for implementing those decisions.”
Tenets 8 and 11. The CPC began the review of Tenets 8 and 11 during the 2020 Southeast regional conference with member discussion and feedback on the tenets and their relevancy to the profession. When all other regional conferences, and many state association meetings, were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CPC decided additional opportunities for member feedback would be needed before considering revisions to Tenets 8 and 11 and paused this review in summer 2020.
- Tenet 1. Be dedicated to the concepts of effective and democratic local government by responsible elected officials and believe that professional general management is essential to the achievement of this objective.
- HISTORY OF THE ICMA CODE OF ETHICS (1924-1998)
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The membership first adopted the Code of Ethics (Code), consisting of 13 Articles, during the ICMA Annual Conference in Montreal in 1924. The Code defined the values of the profession, formalized the shared commitment to ethical principles with colleagues, and expressed the professional and personal conduct expected of members in order to merit public trust and confidence in the organizations in which our members serve.
The principles identified in the first Code continue to resonate with practitioners today. The importance of honesty and integrity, the value of public service, seeking no favor from a position, exemplary conduct in both personal and professional matters, respecting the role and contributions of elected officials, exercising the independence to do what is right, political neutrality, serving the public equitably and governing body members equally, keeping the community informed about local government matters, and supporting and leading employees all come from that first version of the Code.
ICMA’s Constitution requires a majority of members vote by ballot to make any changes to the language of the tenets in the Code. The ICMA Executive Board has the authority to revise guidelines to the tenets, and this usually occurs based on a recommendation from the Committee on Professional Conduct (CPC).
Since 1924, the membership has voted by ballot to amend the Code to reflect changes in society and emerging challenges for the profession. Highlights of these changes are summarized below:
1938. In the first amendment, a preamble was added to better explain the council-manager structure and ICMA’s mission. A statement of the profession’s commitment to merit-based hiring, noting that “political, religious, and racial considerations” carry no weight in personnel decisions was also added. The reference to the manager’s duty to stay out of politics disappeared from the Code.
Article 3, while updated over the years, remains virtually intact today: “The city manager is governed by the highest ideals of honor and integrity in all his public and personal relationships in order that he may merit the respect and inspire the confidence of the administrative organization which he directs and of the public which he serves.”
1952. The ongoing debate over the precise role of the manager in the policy arena was reflected in tweaks made to the policy-related Articles. The Code sagely advised managers to avoid public conflict with the governing body on controversial issues.
The first reference to the responsibility for continuous professional development also appeared in 1952.
1969. As membership expanded as the result of changes to the ICMA Constitution, the Code ceased using the term “city manager” and was replaced with the more inclusive reference to “member.”
1972. The profession’s commitment to political neutrality, dropped in the 1938 revision, reappeared in more direct language in a new Tenet 7: “Refrain from participation in the election of the members of his employing legislative body, and from all partisan political activities which would impair his performance as a professional administrator.”
For the first time, the board added guidelines to give members practical advice on investments, gifts, job commitment expectations, and election activities. In addition, the board adopted the formal Rules of Procedure for Enforcing the Code of Ethics.
1976. As ultimately unsuccessful efforts were underway to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Code was made gender neutral in recognition of the fact that women are equal members of the profession.
1995. The term “municipal” was replaced with “local government.”
1998. An increase in political activity in the membership led to an amendment to clarify the profession’s commitment to political neutrality in Tenet 7 by emphasizing the broader principle. The new version stated: “Refrain from all political activities which undermine public confidence in professional administrators. Refrain from participation in the election of the members of the employing legislative body.”
- ICMA GOVERNANCE
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Special Election on the ICMA Code of Ethics
Members with voting privileges had the opportunity to vote yes or no on the proposed changes to Tenets 1, 4, 9, and 11, March 1-31, 2023. In addition to the summary presented here to explain the recommendations, members were encouraged to read the entire report from ICMA’s consultant partner on the project, the School of Government at the University of North Carolina. The report includes the complete findings of their work, along with the survey results, including the member comment section.
On April 7, 2023, ICMA canvassed 2,544 ballots cast (2,533 online and 11 by mail) by ICMA Corporate members who are eligible to vote based on the criteria outlined in ICMA’s Constitution. Via this special election ballot open March 1 - March 31,2023, Corporate members approved the proposed changes to Tenets 1, 4, 9 and 11 of the ICMA Code of Ethics. Notably, this special election holds the distinction of having the highest participation rate in ICMA’s online voting history (31.62%).
Revisions to tenets of the ICMA Code of Ethics require the approval of a majority of Corporate members voting. The ICMA Executive Board has the authority to revise the guidelines and will review the Committee on Professional Conduct’s recommended changes to the associated guidelines at its June 2023 board meeting.
Per ICMA’s Constitution, three Corporate members served on the Canvassing Committee to witness the vote tally and certify the election results: Ann Marie Townshend, city manager, Lewes, Delaware; Martha Paige, town manager, Morrisville, North Carolina; and Matt Mueller, town manager, Little Elm, Texas.
View the Special Election Results
View the newly revised, frameable version of the ICMA Code of Ethics (tenets only).
Code of Ethics (suitable for framing)
Final recommendations on the proposed changes to the guidelines will be refined by the CPC based on the results of the vote on Tenets 1, 4, 9, and 11. It is anticipated that final guidelines will be presented to the board for consideration at its June 2023 meeting.
Questions
For frequently asked questions about the proposed changes to Tenets 1, 4, 9, or 11, visit the FAQ page.
Members with questions about the changes to Tenets 1, 4, 9 and 11 can contact Jessica Cowles, ethics advisor at 202-962-3513 and jcowles@icma.org; or Martha Perego, managing director of member services and ethics at 202-962-3668 and mperego@icma.org.
