Editing Ethical code (section)

==General notes==
Ethical codes are often adopted by management and also employers, not to promote a particular moral theory, but rather because they are seen as pragmatic necessities for running an organization in a complex society in which moral concepts play an important part.

They are distinct from [[moral code]]s that may apply to the culture, education, and religion of a whole society. It is debated whether the politicians should apply a code of ethics,<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.academia.edu/2064759 |language=it |first=Giampiero |last=Buonomo |title=Elementi di deontologia politica |journal=Nuovi studi politici |date=April–September 2000 |pages=3–66 }}</ref> or whether it is a profession entirely discretionary, just subject to compliance with the law: however, recently codes of practice have been approved in this field.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/qui/code_deontologie.asp |title=Déontologie à l'Assemblée nationale |author=Assemblée Nationale |author-link=National Assembly (France) |language=fr |date=2 August 2017 |website=Assemblée Nationale |access-date=3 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327042350/http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/qui/code_deontologie.asp |archive-date=27 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Often, acts that violate ethical codes may also violate a law or regulation and can be punishable at law or by government agency remedies.

Even organizations and communities that may be considered criminal in nature may have ethical codes of conduct, official or unofficial. 

Codes seek to define and delineate the difference between conduct and behavior that is [[malum in se]], [[malum prohibitum]], and good practice. Sometimes ethical codes include sections that are meant to give firm rules, but some offer general guidance, and sometimes the words are merely aspirational.

In sum, a code of ethics is an attempt to codify "good and bad behavior".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/code%20of%20ethics |title=Code of Ethics |work=[[Merriam Webster Dictionary]] |access-date=March 23, 2017}}</ref>