AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
What you must know
The Code has three parts: aspirational principles, enforceable rules of practice, and procedures. The organizing idea is a hierarchy of responsibility - to the public interest first, then to clients and employers, then to the profession and colleagues. Aspirational principles include serving the public interest, supporting citizen participation, recognizing the rights of others, and striving for excellence. The rules of practice are mandatory: do not accept work outside your competence; disclose conflicts of interest and avoid using public position for personal gain; do not misrepresent facts or withhold material information; protect confidential information obtained in a professional relationship; do not offer or accept improper gifts; and do not participate in plans or decisions you know to be unlawful or unethical. Procedures: a complaint goes to the AICP Ethics Officer, who reviews and may refer to the Ethics Committee; outcomes range from dismissal through admonition and censure to suspension or expulsion.
Traps
Candidates assume the employer outranks the public - it does not. Another trap is confidentiality: information gained professionally should not be disclosed without consent or legal requirement, but confidentiality never shields participation in wrongdoing. Watch also for questions suggesting political activity is banned; planners may act as private citizens, though not in a way that trades on their official position.
Rule of thumb
When a fact pattern smells like a conflict, ask three questions: who is affected, what have I disclosed, and what is documented? If persuasion fails and the action is improper, decline in writing and, if necessary, withdraw.