ETHICAL BEHAVIOR IN THE ACTIVITIES OF REPRESENTATIVE BODIES OF POWER: THE POLITICAL DIMENSION

Abstract

In the contemporary context of democratic political system development, the issue of ethical behavior in the activities of representative bodies of power has become particularly significant. The increasing role of public policy, the openness of political processes, and the growing influence of public opinion have heightened the demands for moral and ethical standards in the conduct of elected representatives. The ethical behavior of deputies constitutes an important factor in shaping citizens’ trust in institutions of power, determining their political legitimacy, and directly influencing the effectiveness of the exercise of governmental authority. From a political perspective, ethical behavior is not limited to compliance with formally established legal norms; it encompasses a broader set of principles, including responsibility, integrity, transparency, accountability, and orientation toward the public interest. Violations of these principles within the activities of representative bodies of power lead to a decline in the quality of political decisions, the spread of political cynicism, and an increase in social tension. For this reason, the ethical dimension of political activity is increasingly considered a necessary element of democratic governance rather than a secondary characteristic of political culture. The relevance of this research is also determined by processes of institutional transformation, which are accompanied by a reassessment of the role and responsibility of representative bodies of power. In conditions of democratic change, there is a need for a scholarly understanding of the mechanisms for shaping and regulating the ethical behavior of political actors, as well as for defining the limits of deputies’ political responsibility to society. Insufficient institutionalization of ethical norms, fragmented control over their implementation, and conflicts between political expediency and moral requirements enhance the importance of a comprehensive political analysis of this issue. Consequently, the study of ethical behavior in the activities of representative bodies of power is both timely and necessary for deepening theoretical approaches to understanding contemporary politics and improving practices of democratic governance.