The official job of all elected and appointed government officials is to do good for their constituencies and the entire society. Despite the low esteem some express about these officials, the vast majority do their best to do just that.

A new book recently published by The Maxwell School of Syracuse University's Community Benchmark Program provides a very useful guide for government officials to improve their government. 

At the state level, consult the work of the Government Performance Program, also at The Maxwell School.

For more on models of good government, check out the Council for Excellence in Government or pick up a copy of Does Your Government Measure Up?