public trust
Faith in government
Public trust is confidence that government officials and institutions will act in the interest of citizens rather than themselves.
When scandals emerge, public trust erodes.
The term also has a legal sense: resources like waterways and wildlife held by the state for public benefit, not private ownership.
The beaches are held in public trust.
Obligation for one's actions
- transparencyState of being see-through
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
- fiduciaryAgent bound by loyalty
regulation · administration · checks and balances · watchdog · audit · disclosure · compliance · ethics
Status as state member
- democracyRule by the people
- social contractAgreement exchanging freedom for order
- participationAct of taking part
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
responsibility · duty · common good · civil society · voting · representation · legitimacy · consent
Trust without proof
- beliefTrust held as true
- credibilityQuality inspiring trust
- assuranceFirm promise or certainty
- reliabilityConsistent, predictable performance
trustworthiness · dependability · legitimacy · credence · goodwill · reputation · perception · approval
Authority over a state
- judiciaryLaw-interpreting government branch
- mediaInformation distribution channels
- policeCivil law enforcement
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
elections · healthcare · banking · military · education · civil service · regulatory agencies · courts
accountability
Obligation for one's actions
- transparencyState of being see-through
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
fiduciary · regulation · administration · checks and balances · watchdog · audit · disclosure · compliance · ethics · reform
citizenship
Status as state member
- democracyRule by the people
- social contractAgreement exchanging freedom for order
- participationAct of taking part
engagement · responsibility · duty · common good · civil society · voting · representation · legitimacy · consent · mandate
faith
Trust without proof
- beliefTrust held as true
- credibilityQuality inspiring trust
- assuranceFirm promise or certainty
reliability · trustworthiness · dependability · legitimacy · credence · goodwill · reputation · perception · approval · support
government
Authority over a state
- judiciaryLaw-interpreting government branch
- mediaInformation distribution channels
- policeCivil law enforcement
parliament · elections · healthcare · banking · military · education · civil service · regulatory agencies · courts · legislature
- government ethicsethics board, ethics committee, ethics rules, ethics violation, ethics violations
- political ethicsethical standards, conflict of interest, conflicts of interest, impartiality, good faith
- press powermedia influence, media bias, watchdog role, agenda setting, gatekeeping
- public administrationadministrative law, government agencies, ministries, local government, county government
- civicsballot, election, ballots, Bill of Rights, branches of government
- governancegovernance, government, democracy, vote, parliament
public trustbreach of trust
Violation of confidence
betrayal of trust · public corruption · government secrecy · cover-up · abuse of power
public trustprivate ownership
Individual control of assets
self-interest · personal enrichment · vested interests · special interests · privatization