Ombudsman

In general, an ombudsman is a state official appointed to provide a check on government activity in the interests of the citizen and to oversee the investigation of complaints of improper government activity against the citizen. If the ombudsman finds a complaint to be substantiated, the problem may get rectified, or an ombudsman report is published making recommendations for change. Further redress depends on the laws of the country concerned, but this typically involves financial compensation. Ombudsmen in most countries do not have the power to initiate legal proceedings or prosecution on the grounds of a complaint. This role is sometimes referred to as a "tribunician" role, and has been traditionally fulfilled by elected representatives – the term refers to the ancient Roman "[[Tribune#Tribune of the Plebs|tribunes of the plebeians]]" ({{Lang|la|tribuni plebis}}), whose role was to intercede in the political process on behalf of common citizens.

In general, an ombudsman is a state official appointed to provide a check on government activity in the interests of the citizen and to oversee the investigation of complaints of improper government activity against the citizen. If the ombudsman finds a complaint to be substantiated, the problem may get rectified, or an ombudsman report is published making recommendations for change. Further redress depends on the laws of the country concerned, but this typically involves financial compensation. Ombudsmen in most countries do not have the power to initiate legal proceedings or prosecution on the grounds of a complaint. This role is sometimes referred to as a "tribunician" role, and has been traditionally fulfilled by elected representatives – the term refers to the ancient Roman "[[Tribune#Tribune of the Plebs|tribunes of the plebeians]]" ({{Lang|la|tribuni plebis}}), whose role was to intercede in the political process on behalf of common citizens.

The significant advantage of an ombudsman is that they examine complaints from outside the offending state institution, thus avoiding the conflicts of interest inherent in self-policing. However, the ombudsman system relies heavily on the selection of an appropriate individual for the office, and on the cooperation of at least some effective official from within the apparatus of the state. However, sociologist Jürgen Beyer has criticised the institution, stating: "Ombudsmen are relics of absolutism, designed to iron out the worst excesses of administrative arbitrariness while keeping the power structures intact."{{Cite journal|last=Beyer|first=Jürgen|date=2014|title=The influence of reading room rules on the quality and efficiency of historical research|url=http://kodu.ut.ee/~jbeyer/Reading_room_rules.pdf|journal=Svensk tidskrift för bibliografi|volume=8|issue=3|page=125}}

The significant advantage of an ombudsman is that they examine complaints from outside the offending state institution, thus avoiding the conflicts of interest inherent in self-policing. However, the ombudsman system relies heavily on the selection of an appropriate individual for the office, and on the cooperation of at least some effective official from within the apparatus of the state. However, sociologist Jürgen Beyer has criticised the institution, stating: "Ombudsmen are relics of absolutism, designed to iron out the worst excesses of administrative arbitrariness while keeping the power structures intact."{{Cite journal|last=Beyer|first=Jürgen|date=2014|title=The influence of reading room rules on the quality and efficiency of historical research|url=http://kodu.ut.ee/~jbeyer/Reading_room_rules.pdf|journal=Svensk tidskrift för bibliografi|volume=8|issue=3|page=125|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813230011/http://kodu.ut.ee/~jbeyer/Reading_room_rules.pdf|archive-date=13 August 2017|url-status=dead}}

==In organizations==

==In organizations==