The relationship between law and morality in the professional activity of an official

Abstract

The relationship between law and morality is important in the professional life of an official. An official must be aware of the importance of morality and find a balance between his or her own inner moral convictions and the law. He must be concerned with moral norms derived from custom, but they must not overshadow the importance of the law in his professional activities. The aim of this research is to show the importance of the relationship between law and morality in the professional activities of officials. The review of literature sources and legal acts shows that in the Lithuanian legal system a law is an act issued in accordance with the Constitution and the Seimas, expressing the will of the legislator. The concept of law is very old, but the concept of law has not changed very much; since ancient times, law has meant a certain norm that must be followed. Understanding the concept of morality is important in order to determine the relationship between law and morality in the professional activities of an official. The concept is also an old one, but it is still relevant in our society today. Morality is the generally accepted rules of life, which are often not codified in law, but which are a very important part of social relations and an important part of the work of employees of statutory bodies. An empirical study conducted to determine the attitude of officers towards the relationship between law and morality found that officers are guided by both the law and morality during their service. Many officers are willing to disregard moral values in certain situations, especially during their service. However, another part of them state that they would put moral norms above the law when the law is unjust, disproportionate, inhuman or when it concerns their family and close people. The results of the survey show that officials agree that laws are designed to ensure that moral values are upheld in society.