Review of Administrative State and Public Administration

A collection of vocabulary-based flashcards to help students prepare for an exam on the administrative state and public administration.

Administrative State

The system where unelected officials (bureaucrats) make and implement policy.

Roles of Public Administrators

Implement policy, regulate industries, deliver services, and manage resources.

Controversy of Administrative State

Concerns about unelected officials having excessive power without direct accountability.

Legitimization of Public Administration

Constitutional law, statutes, public trust, transparency, and effective service delivery.

Constitutional Bases of Bureaucracy

The Necessary and Proper Clause and the Take Care Clause.

Tension Between Bureaucracy and Constitution

Bureaucracies exercise delegated powers despite being unelected, blurring separation of powers.

Congress's Check on Bureaucracy

Through oversight, funding decisions, investigations, and enabling statutes.

Administrative Discretion

The ability of public administrators to interpret and apply laws when specific direction is missing.

Why Congress Delegates Authority

Lack of time, expertise, and the need for flexibility in complex areas.

Risks of Administrative Discretion

Potential for abuse of power, inconsistent application of rules, and reduced democratic accountability.

Politics-Administration Dichotomy

The idea that elected officials make policy while bureaucrats implement it.

Who introduced the politics-administration dichotomy?

Woodrow Wilson.

Criticisms of Dichotomy

Unrealistic separation; bureaucrats influence policy and are influenced by politics.

Max Weber’s Model of Bureaucracy

A hierarchical, rule-bound organization with defined roles and impersonal relationships.

Human Relations Approach

Focuses on worker satisfaction, informal networks, and communication in productivity.

New Public Management (NPM)

A reform movement emphasizing efficiency, performance metrics, privatization, and customer service.

Democratic Values in Public Administration

Representation, accountability, transparency, equity, and responsiveness.

How Public Administrators Serve Democracy

By implementing policies fairly, engaging with the public, and ensuring access to services.

Importance of Communication in Public Policy

Selling policies influences public opinion, garners support, and ensures proper implementation.

Challenges in Communicating Policy Today

Fragmented media landscape, cognitive bias, and motivated reasoning among the public.

Role of the White House Office of Communications

Develops long-term messaging strategies and ensures consistency in policy messaging.

Role of the Office of Speechwriting

Prepares presidential speeches to frame issues and persuade audiences.

What does the White House Press Office do?

Handles media relations, daily press briefings, and spins messages to align with policy.

Office of Digital Strategy Responsibilities

Manages the administration’s online presence and digital messaging.

Importance of Ethics in Public Administration

Ethical behavior builds trust among the public due to impactful decisions by officials.

Hierarchy of Ethics in Public Service

Personal morality → Professional ethics → Organizational ethics → Social ethics.

Accountability and Ethics

Accountability mechanisms enforce ethical behavior and maintain transparency.

Core Ethical Principles for Public Servants

Integrity, accountability, impartiality, transparency, respect for law, competence, and stewardship.

Sunshine Laws

Laws ensuring government transparency, such as the Government in the Sunshine Act and FOIA.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Requires federal agencies to disclose documents upon request, with certain exemptions.