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| ==Origin== | | ==Origin== |
− | "Accountability" stems from late Latin accomptare (to account), a prefixed form of computare (to [[calculate]]), which in turn derived from putare (to reckon). While the [[word]] itself does not appear in [[English]] until its use in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_century 13th century] Norman England, the concept of account-giving has ancient roots in record keeping activities related to governance and money-lending systems that first developed in Ancient Israel, Babylon, Egypt, Greece, and later, Rome. | + | "Accountability" stems from late Latin accomptare (to account), a prefixed form of computare (to [[calculate]]), which in turn derived from putare (to reckon). While the [[word]] itself does not appear in [[English]] until its use in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_century 13th century] Norman England, the concept of account-giving has ancient roots in record keeping activities related to governance and money-lending systems that first developed in Ancient Israel, Babylon, Egypt, Greece, and later, Rome. |
− | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_century 1794] | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_century 1794] |
− | <center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of '''''Accountability''''', follow [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Accountability '''''this link'''''].</center> | + | <center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of '''''Accountability''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Accountability '''''this link'''''].</center> |
| ==Definition== | | ==Definition== |
| *the [[quality]] or [[state]] of being accountable; especially : an obligation or willingness to [[accept]] [[responsibility]] or to account for one's [[actions]] <[[public]] officials lacking accountability> | | *the [[quality]] or [[state]] of being accountable; especially : an obligation or willingness to [[accept]] [[responsibility]] or to account for one's [[actions]] <[[public]] officials lacking accountability> |
| ==Description== | | ==Description== |
− | '''Accountability''' is a [[concept]] in [[ethics]] and governance with several [[meanings]]. It is often used synonymously with such concepts as [[responsibility]], answerability, blameworthiness, liability, and other terms associated with the [[expectation]] of account-giving. As an aspect of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governance governance], it has been central to [[discussions]] related to [[problems]] in the [[public]] sector, nonprofit and private (corporate) worlds. In [[leadership]] roles, accountability is the acknowledgment and [[assumption]] of [[responsibility]] for [[actions]], products, [[decisions]], and policies including the [[administration]], governance, and implementation within the scope of the role or employment position and encompassing the obligation to report, explain and be answerable for resulting consequences. | + | '''Accountability''' is a [[concept]] in [[ethics]] and governance with several [[meanings]]. It is often used synonymously with such concepts as [[responsibility]], answerability, blameworthiness, liability, and other terms associated with the [[expectation]] of account-giving. As an aspect of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governance governance], it has been central to [[discussions]] related to [[problems]] in the [[public]] sector, nonprofit and private (corporate) worlds. In [[leadership]] roles, accountability is the acknowledgment and [[assumption]] of [[responsibility]] for [[actions]], products, [[decisions]], and policies including the [[administration]], governance, and implementation within the scope of the role or employment position and encompassing the obligation to report, explain and be answerable for resulting consequences. |
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− | As a term related to governance, accountability has been difficult to define. It is frequently described as an account-giving [[relationship]] between [[individuals]], e.g. "A is accountable to B when A is obliged to inform B about A’s (past or [[future]]) [[actions]] and [[decisions]], to justify them, and to suffer [[punishment]] in the case of eventual misconduct". Accountability cannot exist without proper accounting practices, in other words [[absence]] of accounting means absence of accountability.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accountability] | + | As a term related to governance, accountability has been difficult to define. It is frequently described as an account-giving [[relationship]] between [[individuals]], e.g. "A is accountable to B when A is obliged to inform B about A’s (past or [[future]]) [[actions]] and [[decisions]], to justify them, and to suffer [[punishment]] in the case of eventual misconduct". Accountability cannot exist without proper accounting practices, in other words [[absence]] of accounting means absence of accountability.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accountability] |
| ==Notes== | | ==Notes== |
| # Walzer, Michael (1994). "The Legal Codes of Ancient Israel". In Ian Shapiro. the Rule of Law. NY: New York University Press. pp. 101–119. | | # Walzer, Michael (1994). "The Legal Codes of Ancient Israel". In Ian Shapiro. the Rule of Law. NY: New York University Press. pp. 101–119. |