GoOD ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICE Public Administration Act lays down rules stating that grounds must to some extent be given for administrative decisions. There are, however, situations beyond the limited scope of these sections where it is still good administrative practice to give grounds. In other words, these standards are a kind of extension of the legal rules. Conversely, for instance the rules that citizens must be addressed politely in speech and writing and that public employees should introduce themselves by names are not linked to any rule of public administration law. The other distinction identifies whether a rule of good administrative practice relates to the case processing in relation to a specific citizen or to the behaviour of the administration and its employees generally. The above examples (extended obligation to give grounds, introduction by name and polite use of language) are associated with the processing of specific cases. Conversely, the rule concerning not accepting gifts or other financial benefits reflects a general standard of behaviour which is not necessarily linked to specific cases. Combining these two categorisations produces the following four categories: Good administrative practice In specific cases As general behaviour In connection with rules of law group A group B Not linked to rules of law group C group D Each of the four groups A-D has some external similarities and internal connections. This should make it somewhat easier to get an overview of and understand the nature of good administrative practice. ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICE AS AN EXTENSION OF THE RULES OF LAW An example of group A – good administrative practice as an extension of rules of law and in connection with a specific case – is the obligation to give grounds. Other examples are the obligation to hear the parties and to give guidance on appeal. There are legal rules concerning both (above all sections 19-21 and sections 25-26 of the Public Administration Act). However, in certain situations, good administrative practice may imply that the parties must be heard or that guidance must be given on appeal even though this is not covered within the scope of the legal rules. If for instance an employee of a private operator with which an authority has contracted concerning job creation efforts is dismissed at the request of the 11