Unit 6: Bureaucracy and Public Administration
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary role of public administration in relation to the executive?

  • To conduct independent public inquiries
  • To manage the electoral process
  • To ensure policies are effectively implemented (correct)
  • To provide advisory opinions to ministers

Which characteristic is NOT part of the ideal bureaucratic model as proposed by Max Weber?

  • Clear hierarchical structures
  • Job stability for administrative personnel
  • Flexible task assignments to encourage creativity (correct)
  • Recruitment based on merit and ability

How does public ownership of resources affect bureaucratic practices?

  • Promotes accountability and prevents corruption (correct)
  • Limits access to public services
  • Encourages private sector efficiency
  • Obstructs policy implementation

What mechanism helps ensure that bureaucrats act impartially?

<p>Written and published rules (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way could bureaucracy potentially impact democracy negatively?

<p>By fostering a rigid framework that limits responsiveness (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of administrative reform primarily focuses on enhancing efficiency?

<p>Promoting merit-based recruitment (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does a hierarchical organization benefit public administration?

<p>Ensures clear lines of accountability (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential challenge for modern administrations in achieving the ideal bureaucratic model?

<p>Increased public demand for services (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key concern regarding the strong and competent administration during crises?

<p>It lacks accountability to citizens. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the shift towards a 'post-bureaucratic' administration?

<p>Encouragement of innovation and initiative. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How can the staff of the administrations be prevented from becoming autonomous decision-makers?

<p>By ensuring they are held accountable to political leadership. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What implication does the privatization of functions and services have on the political sphere?

<p>It can lead to a reduction in the political sphere. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which approach is most aligned with the principles of new public management?

<p>Organizing administrative units in a network. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a challenge of bureaucracy in a democratic context?

<p>It creates a disconnect between citizens and administrative actions. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What outcome do reform processes in developed countries aim to achieve with regard to public administration?

<p>Enhance responsiveness to citizens' demands. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common feature of 'new public management'?

<p>Selection of multi-skilled staff. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one primary function of public administration regarding community conflicts?

<p>To prepare, implement, and control public policies (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which function involves the redistribution of resources by public administrations?

<p>Provision of goods and services (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do public administrations ensure effective management of resources?

<p>By applying management and control techniques (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does information accumulation play in public administration?

<p>It aids in advising political decision-makers (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a negative consequence of bureaucracy on democracy?

<p>It can create a disconnect between the government and citizens (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a commonly identified function of public administration?

<p>Provision of luxury services (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which strategy is essential for administrative reform in public sectors?

<p>Enhancing transparency and accountability (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a critical aspect of public administration's accountability?

<p>To provide reliable reports on performance (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Strong Administration's Effect

A robust and capable administration can maintain state cohesion and promote modernization during crises, but its accountability to citizens is unclear.

Accountability Issue

It's difficult for citizens to hold the administration accountable for their actions and redirect their objectives in a strong administration.

Executive-Administration Relationship

The relationship between the political leadership and the administration needs review to ensure that the administration remains a service instrument and doesn't become independent.

Privatization of Services

A suggestion for reducing administrative scope by transferring public functions to private entities.

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Administrative Reform

Adapting and reforming administration to meet newer needs.

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Post-Bureaucratic Administration

A new model of administration moving away from traditional bureaucratic structures, emphasizing adaptability.

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New Public Management

A reform approach focusing on multi-skilled staff, organizational flexibility (networks), performance-based control, and encouraging initiative.

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Combined Reform Approach

In some countries, reforms involve reducing administrative tasks and adopting new public management principles to better address citizen demands.

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Bureaucracy

A system of government administration marked by hierarchical authority, job specialization, and adherence to formal rules.

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Public Administration

The organization that carries out government decisions and policies.

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Ideal Bureaucratic Model (Weber)

A model of administration based on merit, rules, and clear procedures, avoiding corruption and favoritism.

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Recruitment based on Merit

Hiring public servants based on skills and qualifications, not political connections.

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Job Stability (Bureaucracy)

Public servants (in an ideal bureaucracy) have job security to avoid political pressure.

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Clear Task Definition

Each bureaucratic employee has clearly defined responsibilities, and they cannot perform tasks outside their designated area.

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Instrumental Rationality

Bureaucracies strive to use the most effective means to achieve their goals.

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Modern Public Administration

Modern public administration is structured as bureaucracy.

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Public Administration Functions

The range of activities performed by public administrations within a political system, including policy preparation, implementation, and outcome control for managing community conflicts.

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Rule Application

Applying general rules to specific situations, like enforcing traffic laws, safety regulations, and urban plans through inspection, advising, reporting, sanctioning, and enforcement.

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Goods and Services Provision

Redistribution of resources to provide education, healthcare, culture, transportation, communication, and support for disadvantaged groups through subsidies, grants, and pensions.

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Resource Mobilization

Gathering funds through taxes, fees, etc., and managing those resources efficiently and accountably using proper control techniques.

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Information and Advice

Collecting and analyzing data about society, along with gathering expert knowledge to advise political leaders and create intervention plans.

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Mismatch with New Functions

The negative view of bureaucracy stems from its traditional model not aligning with the modern roles of administrations.

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Community Conflicts Management

Public administration's role in resolving conflicts and disagreements within a community using policies and actions.

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Study Notes

Unit 6: Bureaucracy, Public Administration, and Public Policies

  • This unit covers bureaucracy, public administration, and public policies.
  • The index lists public administration and bureaucracy, and public policies as the two main topics.

1. Public Administration and Bureaucracy

  • Everyday interactions with the state often involve public administration, not elected officials.
  • Obtaining licenses, benefits, or services usually goes through administrative channels.
  • Public administration is an organization utilizing professional personnel, financial resources, and public ownership to execute executive decisions.
  • Public administrations are crucial tools for translating political decisions into real-world actions.

1. Public Administration and Bureaucracy (cont.)

  • Modern administration is based on bureaucratic principles (Max Weber).
  • Bureaucracy prioritizes adjusting means to ends (instrumental rationality).
  • Key features of the ideal bureaucratic model include:
    • Merit-based recruitment via standardized procedures, ensuring job stability.
    • Clearly defined tasks for each member, restricting individual initiative.
    • Public ownership of resources and operations.
    • Adherence to published rules, neutrality, and impartiality.
    • Hierarchical structure with clear lines of authority and accountability.
  • Modern bureaucracies often deviate from the idealized model.

1. Public Administration and Bureaucracy (cont.)

  • Current functions of public administrations encompass a broad range of activities.
  • These include applying general rules to specific situations (e.g., traffic laws, regulations), providing essential goods and services (e.g., education, healthcare, infrastructure).
  • Administrations also mobilize resources, gather and evaluate data, and offer expert advice to support policy decisions.

1. Public Administration and Bureaucracy (cont.)

  • Public administrations manage resources through taxation, payments, and service fees.
  • Data accumulation and specialized knowledge building are key components of public administration.
  • Expert advice is crucial in influencing political decision-making and planning interventions.

1. Public Administration and Bureaucracy (cont.)

  • Can public administrations be held accountable for their performance?
  • A strong administration can be crucial in times of crisis to ensure essential services and stabilize society.
  • Public administrations, however, operate within a complex political landscape, demanding actions that balance individual needs with wider community interests.

1. Public Administration and Bureaucracy (cont.)

  • Bureaucracy reform is a topic of discussion.
    • Private functions and services are sometimes proposed.
    • Adapting bureaucracy to a new environment is also discussed.
      • Multi-skilled staff, increased mobility for employees, flatter hierarchies are common suggestions.
      • Increased emphasis on innovative methods, assessing quality of outputs and control over results.

2. Public Policies

  • Public policy is defined as the outcome of political activity or an interrelated set of decisions addressing social conflicts.
  • Public policy is more specifically defined as actions formally adopted by public institutions, with diverse actors involved in their creation.
  • Public policy often incorporates coercion or compulsion as it is imposed on the community.
  • Public policy's effectiveness depends on the link between intentions, actions, and outcomes.

2. Public Policies (cont.)

  • The policy cycle is an analytical model.
  • Steps of the policy cycle include initiation (agenda-setting), alternative formulation, implementation, and evaluation.

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Unit 6. Bureaucracy, Public Administration and Public Policies PDF

Description

This quiz explores key concepts in bureaucracy and public administration, essential for understanding how political decisions are implemented through administrative channels. It details the role of public administration and the principles of bureaucracy as outlined by Max Weber. Test your knowledge on these critical topics in public policies.

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