The king is always presumed to attend to the business of the realm, for the public good of all.

Explanation

Government officers are presumed to act in the public interest — but this presumption is rebuttable when their acts demonstrably serve private interests instead.

Where this applies

• A city official diverts public funds to a personal project, and the court holds this violates the presumption that government officers attend to public business for the public good.
• An agency head is accused of using regulatory power to benefit a political ally, and the challenger rebuts the presumption that the official was acting in the public interest by showing the private benefit.
• A legislator sponsors a bill that would directly enrich her family's business, and the court examines whether the presumption that lawmakers act for the public good has been overcome by evidence of self-dealing.