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To carry out their duties, elected and appointed officials must be certified as certified public officials. The process varies by jurisdiction and may include training programs to ensure understanding of responsibilities. Open communication with the community is important, and the need for CPOs is increasing as more responsibilities are handed over to state and local officials. Citizens have a right to know about the training and expectations of their government officials.
In establishing an ongoing and consistent way of maintaining local and state government, it is important that elected and appointed officials are legally recognized and empowered to carry out their duties. To confer the powers and responsibilities associated with the office that the individual has won by public election or has been appointed by someone with authority to do so, the new officer must be certified. Once this is done, the individual is now a duly recognized certified public official.
The process for changing from nominated or elected official to certified public official varies slightly from one jurisdiction to another. In some localities, an authority known as a certified public official coordinator is responsible for establishing and maintaining education and training programs used in the certification process. In the United States, programs of this nature have become more commonplace as state, county, and even county governments have become responsible for functions that were once the province of the federal government.
The idea behind the CPO training program is to ensure that all persons expected to function as certified public officials fully understand the scope of their responsibilities as defined by the jurisdiction in which they will serve. Often, the programs will also contain general leadership learning modules, information about existing lines of communication in the jurisdiction, and other details that will help the new officer be amply prepared to perform his duties competently.
Whether this program must be completed before the individual actually takes office also varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In some cases, the inauguration of the position may occur first, with training carried out in the first months of the new term. In some jurisdictions, successful completion of the program may be required before the individual takes control of the position.
A certified public official is generally accountable to others within the hierarchy, as well as the constituency of the jurisdiction. To ensure that the lines of communication are open, the certified public official may seek the support of key community leaders as a way of keeping the public abreast of what is happening within their area of responsibility. This type of open communication is an excellent way for a CPO to solicit volunteers from the wider community to help with certain functions that do not require access to confidential information.
As more and more responsibilities for government programs are handed over to state and local officials, the need for a certified public official in each major office within the jurisdiction becomes more apparent. For more information about the structure and content of the CPO program in your state, check with your state-level certified public officer coordinator or your local county’s county commission. As a citizen, you have a right to know what training and expectations are part of the responsibilities entrusted to your government elected and appointed officials.
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