accountability
Loading your saved state.
to hold someone accountable
To demand an explanation or justification from someone for their actions and make them responsible for possible mistakes or offenses.
Nach dem Finanzskandal wurde der gesamte Vorstand zur Rechenschaft gezogen.
After the financial scandal, the entire board was held accountable.
to give account
To report in detail on one's own actions, decisions, or the management of entrusted funds and take responsibility for them.
Der Schatzmeister muss vor dem Verein über alle Ausgaben des letzten Jahres Rechenschaft ablegen.
The treasurer must give account to the association for all expenses from the past year.
'Rechenschaft' (accountability) is made up of 'rechnen' (to calculate) and the suffix '-schaft', which describes a state or a community. Literally, it means giving an 'account' or a report about one's own actions.
Der Verein verlangt vom Vorstand vollständige Rechenschaft.
The association demands full accountability from the board.
This word appears almost exclusively in two fixed expressions: 'Rechenschaft ablegen' (to give account / to report actively) and 'jemanden zur Rechenschaft ziehen' (to hold someone accountable). It is rarely used on its own.
Der Politiker weigerte sich, für seine Fehler Rechenschaft abzulegen.
The politician refused to give account for his mistakes.
The term 'Rechenschaft' (accountability) and the expressions connected with it belong to formal language. They are used in official, political, legal, or business contexts.
Im Geschäftsbericht muss das Unternehmen über die Verwendung der Gelder Rechenschaft ablegen.
In the annual report, the company must give account of how the funds were used.
When you use 'Rechenschaft ablegen' (to give account), you often use the preposition 'über' (+ accusative) for the topic and 'vor' (+ dative) for the person or institution you are reporting to.
Die Ministerin musste vor dem Parlament Rechenschaft über ihre Reisekosten ablegen.
The minister had to give account to parliament for her travel expenses.
responsibility
Verantwortung refers generally to the duty to take responsibility for a task and its consequences. By contrast, when someone is held zur Rechenschaft, they are required to provide an explanation or justification for a possible mistake. Use Verantwortung for the general duty and Rechenschaft for subsequently demanding an explanation.
Wegen des Fehlers wird die Projektleiterin zur Rechenschaft gezogen.
The project manager is being held accountable for the mistake.
Für den Fehler trägt die Projektleiterin die Verantwortung.
The project manager is responsible for the mistake.
