Flashcards Studio

(a)Identify the controlling doctrine on whether a public officer's acts bind the government when performed outside the officer's lawful authority. (b)Apply this doctrine to the following scenario to determine whether the city can be bound. (c)If there is no ratification, what are the likely consequences for the city and for the officer. Scenario: An urban municipality's Chief Project Engineer signs a design-build contract with UrbanFlow Constructors for flood-control gates valued at 12 million pesos, although the duly approved annual appropriation for flood-control projects is only 5 million and there is no debt authorization beyond that appropriation. The City Mayor directed the Chief Project Engineer to proceed due to an urgent flood threat, and work has begun with UrbanFlow submitting invoices. The city later refuses to pay, contending the Chief Project Engineer had no authority to bind the city beyond the appropriation.