Political negligence is a breach of duty by an elected official, which can harm taxpayers and citizens. It can be innocent, such as neglect or incompetence, or deliberate, such as taking bribes. It can lead to criminal charges and even tort. Citizens can bring suits against officials for damages or removal from office.
Political negligence is an instance of negligent or unethical conduct by an elected official. Like medical malpractice and legal malpractice, the political type involves a breach of duty and a failure to offer professional services as expected. This negligence usually hurts taxpayers and citizens to whom the politician is accountable. This term is often used pejoratively in political rhetoric, with politicians accusing opponents of “malpractice” when really they just mean that their opponents have made controversial decisions.
There are different types of political negligence. The most innocent, though not necessarily the least harmful, is negligence. If a politician fails to fully review a bill, for example, and it later turns out to be a disaster, this could be seen as malpractice by voters. Neglect is sometimes associated with incompetence, an inability to do the job. When a politician fails to meet an expected standard of behavior, that too can be seen as negligence.
From the more sinister side of things, political negligence can involve improper or unethical conduct undertaken deliberately. Taking bribes is a form of negligence, as are other activities that demonstrate favoritism towards particular constituents or organizations. In some cases, this can lead to criminal charges for corruption.
Citizens rely on their elected officials to advocate for them in legislative bodies and to make good choices that will benefit their communities. When politicians fail to keep their end of the bargain, it can have unfortunate consequences for citizens. An accusation of political malpractice indicates that citizens are deeply unhappy with the way a politician has handled a situation and can threaten a political career.
In some cases, political negligence can be grounds for tort. In law, a tort is a civil wrong, and if proven, such cause can result in fines and other consequences for the convicted party. When citizens feel that they have suffered direct harm as a result of political negligence, many nations allow them to bring suits against their elected officials to recover damages or remove those officials from office. Citizens can also ask their elected officials to lobby for the removal of a superior, such as a president or prime minister.
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