Chapter 2 notes

WHAT IS ACCOUNTABILITY?

• Definition: Accountability is the relationship between individuals regarding actions and responsibilities. It involves understanding "who is accountable to whom" and "what are they accountable for."

• Foundation of Bureaucracy: Critical in a democratic system as it ensures that policymakers can control administrators’ actions.

• Control Types: Can be positive (requiring individuals to fulfill their duties) or negative (preventing undesirable actions).

• Sins of Omission and Commission: Both can lead to investigation and criticism; issues often highlighted by media scrutiny.

  • Example: The Iraq prison abuse scandal generated extensive media coverage versus underreported military service achievements.

• Focus of Control: Primarily aimed at identifying and correcting bureaucratic errors, often scrutinizing "sins of commission" more heavily.

• Desire for Control: Policymakers may avoid precise specifications of policy goals to maintain a buffer against direct blame for outcomes.

  • Example: After Hurricane Katrina, few officials faced direct accountability despite widespread failures.

AVOIDING THE "GOTCHA" OF ACCOUNTABILITY

• "Gotcha" Effect: If administrators fear repercussions for problems, they may obscure issues, leaving little visibility into administrative challenges.

• Complexity of Solutions: Administrative issues often lack straightforward solutions; decisions are complicated by unforeseen circumstances.

• Risk of Safety: Punishing risk-taking leads to overly cautious decisions, impeding effective governance.

• Excessive Controls: May result in bureaucratic red tape, making it harder for administrations to respond effectively to public needs.

  • Peter Self noted the tension between accountability requirements and effective executive action.

• Discretion is Inevitable: Administrators must possess discretion to adapt policies, requiring a balance between accountability and flexibility.

TRACING ACCOUNTABILITY TO INDIVIDUALS

• Debate on Obedience vs. Individual Judgment: Tension exists between following orders from superiors and exercising independent judgment.

• Historical Context of Whistleblowing: Evolved from a term in sports to one involving revealing misconduct in organizations.

• Fundamental Question: How much obedience are officials obliged to maintain versus how much discretion should they utilize?

• Three Big Issues: Pertaining to accountability are searching for legal boundaries, political challenges, and evolving policy problems that complicate accountability.

LEGAL BOUNDARIES

• Historical Context: The Magna Carta established the principle that government power should be limited by law to protect citizens' rights.

• Rule of Law: Key to balancing government power and individual liberty; it guides how administrators exercise their authority.

THE ROLE OF POLITICS

• Constitutional Design: Aims to create a system of checks and balances to prevent power concentration.

• Progressive Era Dilemma: A strong government was seen as necessary to manage corporate power, yet citizens were wary of bureaucratic oppression.

• Separation of Powers: Administrators need the delegation of authority to implement laws while maintaining accountability through the rule of law.

POLITICAL SOLUTIONS

• The Role of Public Administration: The theory interconnectedness of politics and administration; political pressures have historically influenced administrative action.

• Administrative Discretion: Clerical responsibilities complicate accountability, as individual interpretations of the law significantly impact implementation.

EVOLVING POLICY PROBLEMS

• Challenges of Complexity: As government programs became increasingly intricate, traditional accountability mechanisms began to falter.

• Strains of the Rule of Law: Partnerships with private sectors complicate enforcement of a single, consistent rule of law.

• Cultural Differences: Variations in organizational culture across different government entities and private contractors create inconsistencies in accountability.

ELEMENTS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

• Fiscal Accountability: Ensurances that funds are spent as intended and effectively managed by agencies.

  • Example: Accusations of excessive spending on conference muffins highlight public scrutiny of government spending.

• Process Accountability: Concerns how tasks are performed, focusing on fairness and effectiveness in service delivery.

  • Example: Voting machines faced scrutiny during presidential elections for not properly counting votes.

• Program Accountability: Challenges in determining whether public programs achieve their intended objectives efficiently.

  • Example: The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) measures federal agency performance.

HOLDING ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE

• Challenges of Implementation: Convoluted signals from various authorities lead to conflicts and uncertainties for administrators.

• Balancing External and Internal Controls: Accountability necessitates ethical behavior and professional judgment among administrators to navigate conflicting directives.

• Debate on Control and Discretion: Ongoing discussions about whether professional norms or external controls should be prioritized in ensuring administrative accountability.

GOVERNMENTAL POWER AND ADMINISTRATIVE ETHICS

• High Ethical Standards: Public officials face higher expectations for ethical conduct compared to private sector norms.

• Impact of Ethics on Personnel: Striving for high ethical behavior must be balanced against the need for skilled, capable individuals in public service.

• Political Accountability and Transparency: Core principles emphasized by public administrators to align with societal trust and integrity in governance.

THE PUBLIC SERVICE

• Quality of Governance: Relies on the recruitment and retention of individuals committed to ethical behavior and the goals of public administration.

• Community Value Systems: Society's communication of values through families, schools, and peers shapes the professional character of public servants.

• Complex Partnerships: The modern administrative landscape requires collaboration among various entities, intensifying accountability challenges.

Accountability:

• Relationship concerning actions and responsibilities.

• Foundation of bureaucracy; critical in democratic systems.

• Can be positive or negative.

Key Issues:

• Complexity of solutions can obscure issues.

• Discretion vs. obedience remains a debate.

• Historical legal context: Magna Carta limits government power.

Elements:

1. Fiscal Accountability: Ensuring funds are spent effectively.

2. Process Accountability: Fairness in task performance.

3. Program Accountability: Efficiency in achieving objectives.

Challenges:

• Conflicting signals complicate administration.

• Ethical standards in public service are higher than in the private sector.