Public Administration Overview Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the definition of public administration?

The provision of public services and enforcement of government regulations.

Which of the following is an example of the provision of public services in the federal government?

  • Service Ontario
  • Driver's License
  • Service Canada
  • All of the above (correct)

Which of the following is an example of the enforcement of government regulations?

  • Food regulations
  • Rights and freedoms
  • Employment law and labor regulations
  • All of the above (correct)

In terms of public administration, what is public policy?

<p>The outcome of decisions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What makes up the public administration machinery?

<p>All of the above (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the defining characteristic of the public bureaucracy?

<p>The hierarchy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main structure of the hierarchy in the public bureaucracy?

<p>Few elected officials at the top, senior public servants in the middle section, and public servants at the bottom, making up the majority of the public bureaucracy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of public administration?

<p>All of the above (E)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the system of internal accountability?

<p>Ethics review board, basically within government, and private administration has this form of accountability.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of private bureaucracy?

<p>All of the above (E)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an influence on public administration?

<p>All of the above (F)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of Max Weber's main points on public administration is characterized by the idea that individuals are treated based on their qualifications rather than personal connections?

<p>Standardized employment (Merit, salaries, career) (E)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of Woodrow Wilson's main points on Public administration focused on the need for a clear separation between political decision-making and the implementation of those decisions?

<p>Need to separate public administration from politics (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Woodrow Wilson believed that public administration should be guided by patronage.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Max Weber's concept of 'Impersonal Process' in public administration suggests that decisions should be made based on personal relationships.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Woodrow Wilson believed that in the past, government was less complex than it is now.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Public Administration

The provision of public services and enforcement of government regulations.

Public Services (Examples)

Federal government actions like providing driver's licenses and services related to Ontario.

Government Regulations (Examples)

Rules and guidelines, such as food safety standards and employment laws, enforced by the government.

Public Policy

The outcome of government decisions.

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Public Administration Machinery

Public servants, bureaucracy, and policies that form the structure for government operations.

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Public Bureaucracy

The structure of government employees, marked by a hierarchy.

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Bureaucracy Hierarchy

A chain of command within the public bureaucracy, typically with elected officials at the top, followed by senior staff, and then most of the workforce.

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Public Administration Characteristics

Serving public interest, handling multiple goals simultaneously (leading to inefficiency), and slow decision-making process with internal and external accountability systems.

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Internal Accountability

A system of review and oversight within government agencies.

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External Accountability

Mechanisms holding the government accountable to the public.

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Private Bureaucracy Characteristics

Focuses on profit maximization, shareholder interests, and efficiency.

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Influences on Public Admin

Globalization, public perception of the current government, political culture, fiscal concerns, and public service size.

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Max Weber's Points

Hierarchy, specialization, impersonal decision-making, merit-based employment, and job security form public service.

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Woodrow Wilson's Points

Separation of politics and administration, administration as government in action, rising complexity needing expertise, and need for democratic governance catching up to European monarchies.

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Politics-Administration Dichotomy

The idea of separating political decision-making from the daily workings of government.

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Study Notes

Public Administration Overview

  • Public administration involves providing public services and enforcing government regulations.
  • Examples of federal services include ServiceOntario, driver's licenses, and Service Canada.
  • Enforcement examples include food regulations, rights and freedoms, and employment laws.
  • Public policy is the outcome of governmental decisions.
  • The public administration machinery comprises public servants, public bureaucracy, and public policy.

Public Bureaucracy Characteristics

  • The defining characteristic of public bureaucracy is its hierarchical structure.
  • The hierarchy typically features few elected officials at the top, senior public servants in the middle, and a large number of public servants at the bottom.
  • Public administration's mission is to serve the public interest.
  • Meeting multiple goals simultaneously can hinder efficiency.
  • Decision-making processes tend to be slow.
  • Accountability is both internal and external.

Accountability Systems

  • Internal accountability systems include ethics review boards.
  • External accountability is tied to the public interest.

Private Bureaucracy Compared

  • Private bureaucracies prioritize profit maximization and shareholder interests.
  • They strive for optimization and efficiency.

Influences on Public Administration

  • Globalization is a significant influence.
  • Public perception of the government, political culture, and fiscal imperatives (budget constraints) also influence public administration.
  • The size of the public service is another factor.

Key Theorists: Weber and Wilson

  • Max Weber's theories emphasized organizational hierarchy, specialized work, impersonal processes, standardized employment (merit, salaries, careers), and job security in public administration.
  • Woodrow Wilson advocated for a clear separation of politics and administration (politics-administration dichotomy), emphasizing that administration is government in action. He highlighted the growing complexity of governing and the need for expertise within the public service.

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