Browse previous "Questions of Ethics" by Canon.
Canon 1 | Canon 2| Canon 3 | Canon 4 | Canon 5 | Canon 6 | Canon 7 | Other ASCE Guidelines
Canon 1
Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development3 in the performance of their professional duties.
The Public's Right to the Right Information
April 2013
Fostering a Culture of Safety
January 2013
The Importance of a Personal Pledge
December 2012
Standing Up and Pushing Back
January 2012
The Importance of Engineering Ethics
August 2011
Ensuring the Safety, Health, and Welfare of the Public
July 2011
The Personal Element
June 2011
The Responsibility to Report Wrongdoing
April 2011
Member Suspects Treatment Plant is Not in Compliance with Fire Code
December 2009
Development of Sustainability Provisions in ASCE Code of Ethics
November 2008
Reviewing and Sealing Documents Prepared by a Deceased Engineer
August 2007
William J. LeMessurier
July 2007
Joint Venture Partner Seeks to Lower Costs by Using Inferior Hardware
May 2007
The Hyatt Regency Walkway Collapse
January 2007
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Canon 2
Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.
Ethical Practice Demands Expertise
February 2013
Expert Witness Testifies Outside Areas of Expertise
July/August 2009
Reviewing and Sealing Documents Prepared by a Deceased Engineer
August 2007
Engineer Submits False Report on Soil Conditions
March 2006
Engineer Reviews and Seals Plans Prepared by Another Firm
May 2005
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Canon 3
Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.
The Public's Right to the Right Information
April 2013
Standing Up and Pushing Back
January 2012
Ethical Merits Then and Now
September 2011
Standards and Anti-Competitive Behavior: The Hydrolevel Case
February 2011
Disclosing Financial Support of Study Reported in Professional Journal
December 2010
Member Observes Deficiencies While Working as Construction Inspector
October 2010
Member Questions Bridge Design Without Thorough Knowledge of Facts
September 2010
Expert Witness Provides Inconsistent, Unsupported Testimony
February 2010
Member Pressured to Change Recommendation in Professional Report
January 2010
Expert Witness Testifies Outside Areas of Expertise
July/August 2009
Member Suspects Testing Results Are False or Inaccurate
April 2007
Review of Report Makes Inflammatory Criticisms of Report’s Authors
January 2006
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Canon 4
Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
Keeping Information Confidential
October 2012
Should Past Ethics Violations Be Disclosed in Elections?
April 2012
Exercise Care in Making Political Contributions
March 2012
More Than One Code May Apply
December 2011
Standards and Anti-Competitive Behavior: The Hydrolevel Case
February 2011
Disclosure of Confidential Information from one Competitor to Another
November 2010
Member Asked to Pay Fee in Exchange for Contractor’s Referral to Client
July/August 2010
Duty To Investigate Hints of Impropriety in Project Financial Transactions
May 2010
Municipal Engineer Reviews Plans Performed by His Own Firm
March 2010
Member Pressured to Change Recommendation in Professional Report
January 2010
Limitation of Liability Clauses
November 2009
Public Official Awards Contracts to Firm Paying Him as “Consultant”
May 2009
Departing Employee Recruits Employer’s Clients, Criticizes Employer
April 2009
Departing Employee Persuades Clients to Cancel Contracts with Employer
December 2008
Engineer Wins Raffle Prize from Potential Product Vendor
October 2008
Member Inflates Hours as Reported on Time Sheets
May 2008
William J. LeMessurier
July 2007
Joint Venture Partner Seeks to Lower Costs by Using Inferior Hardware
May 2007
Member Suspects Testing Results Are False or Inaccurate
April 2007
Departing Employee Recruits Co-Workers to Join New Firm
August 2006
Engineers Fail To Disclose Private Interest in Report to Public Agency
April 2006
Use of Client Information To Have an Adverse Impact on Client
February 2006
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Canon 5
Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others.
The Ethical Aspects of Competition
November 2012
Keeping Information Confidential
October 2012
Pitfalls of Parting
September 2012
The Ethical Aspects of Promotional Expenses
June 2012
Exercise Care in Making Political Contributions
March 2012
Exercise Caution in Offering Gratuities
February 2012
More Than One Code May Apply
December 2011
Code of Ethics Applies to Author’s Responsibilities
October 2011
Ethical Merits Then and Now
September 2011
Defining Ethical Behavior
May 2011
Collusive Bidding Scheme Prompts Indictments
March 2011
Standards and Anti-Competitive Behavior: The Hydrolevel Case
February 2011
Disclosure of Confidential Information from one Competitor to Another
November 2010
Member Questions Bridge Design Without Thorough Knowledge of Facts
September 2010
Member Asked to Pay Fee in Exchange for Contractor’s Referral to Client
July/August 2010
Research Paper Published without Team Leader’s Knowledge/Inclusion
October 2009
Engineer Donates Goods to Public Official in Exchange for Work
September 2009
Departing Employee Recruits Employer’s Clients, Criticizes Employer
April 2009
Employer Reimburses Employee for Political Campaign Contributions
March 2009
Member Pays Public Official in Exchange for Service Contracts
January 2009
Member Makes Campaign Contributions under Family, Friends’ Names
June 2008
Advertisements Falsely Imply ASCE Sponsorship of Member’s CE Course
March 2008
Licensure of Federal Employees November 2007 Use of P.E. on Business Cards Outside of Licensed Jurisdiction(s)
February 2008
Engineering Firm Shareholder Elected to Public Office
June 2007
ASCE Removes “Supplanting” Language from Code of Ethics
March 2007
ASCE Removes Price-Bidding Restrictions from Code of Ethics
February 2007
Professor Submits Student’s Research Paper as His Own Work
November 2006
Student Publishes Paper Plagiarizing Professor’s Lecture Notes/Thesis
September 2006
Firm Solicits Help from Local Engineer Under False Promise of Work
June 2006
Firm Changes Title Block, Uses Another Company’s Drawings
May 2006
Review of Report Makes Inflammatory Criticisms of Report’s Authors
January 2006
Paper Borrows Heavily from Another Author’s Work without Credit
December 2005
Consultant’s Review of Another Consultant’s Report
November 2005
Spiro Agnew Indicted in Engineering Contract Kickback Scheme
October 2005
Engineers Falsify Invoices To Disguise Kickback Scheme
September 2005
Engineer Pays Percent of Government Contracts to County Employee
June 2005
Engineer’s Report Plagiarizes Another Firm’s Report on Similar Project
April 2005
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Canon 6
Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and dignity of the engineering profession and shall act with zero-tolerance for bribery, fraud, and corruption.
Maintaining Zero Tolerance for Bribery, Fraud, and Corruption
March 2013
The Ethical Aspects of Promotional Expenses
June 2012
Exercise Caution in Offering Gratuities
February 2012
Code Addresses New Ethical Challenges
November 2011
Defining Ethical Behavior
May 2011
Collusive Bidding Scheme Prompts Indictments
March 2011
Duty To Investigate Hints of Impropriety in Project Financial Transactions
May 2010
Employer Reimburses Employee for Political Campaign Contributions
March 2009
Member Pays Public Official in Exchange for Service Contracts
January 2009
Engineer Prepares Fraudulent Board Minute to Cover CEO’s Misconduct
September 2008
Member Makes Campaign Contributions under Family, Friends’ Names
June 2008
Member Inflates Hours as Reported on Time Sheets
May 2008
Female Engineer Faces Workplace Discrimination
January 2008
Payment of “Consulting Fees” to Foreign Agent to Secure Contracts
October 2007
Student Takes ASCE Chapter Funds for Personal Use
September 2007
Engineering Firm Shareholder Elected to Public Office
June 2007
Engineers Collude To Suppress Competition on Government Contracts
December 2006
Member Bills Municipality for Work Not Done by Member’s Firm
October 2006
Engineer Files Fraudulent Corporate Income Tax Return
July 2006
Firm Solicits Help from Local Engineer Under False Promise of Work
June 2006
Use of Client Information To Have an Adverse Impact on Client
February 2006
Spiro Agnew Indicted in Engineering Contract Kickback Scheme
October 2005
Engineers Falsify Invoices To Disguise Kickback Scheme
September 2005
Firm Falsifies Timesheets on Government Project
August 2005
Public Employee Awards Contracts in Exchange for Contributions
July 2005
Engineer Pays Percent of Government Contracts to County Employee
June 2005
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Canon 7
Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their careers, and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of those engineers under their supervision.
The Importance of Understanding Engineering Ethics
May 2012
Mandatory Continuing Education
February 2009
Female Engineer Faces Workplace Discrimination
January 2008
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Other ASCE Guidelines
The Ethical Aspects of Competition
November 2012
Should Past Ethics Violations Be Disclosed in Elections?
April 2012
Ensuring the Safety, Health, and Welfare of the Public
July 2011
The Responsibility to Report Wrongdoing
April 2011
Ethics of Publishing Case Histories
August 2008
ASCE’s Ethics Enforcement Process
July 2008
Public Employee Awards Contracts in Exchange for Contributions
July 2005
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