PADM 7260DEMOCRACY AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Kim Berryman-DagesGregory Gates
Bryan LaBrecque Judd Quarles
TOPIC…
How Does the Government Actually Operate and…
…What Role Does the Public Administrator Play In It?
FOUR KEY COMPONENTS…
To answer the question posed, we will focus on four important components…
The Vision of the Framers of the US ConstitutionPresident Woodrow Wilson’s OpinionsThe Role of Public Administrators in Today’s Policy MakingThe Pros and Cons of “Out-sourcing” Government Services (aka “Size of Government)
BACKGROUND…
During infancy, the US framers were unsure what type of government they desired, but were convinced of one they shunned… Care for a
spot of tea?
BACKGROUND (CONT)…
Articles of Confederation (1781)Federalist v. Anti-Federalists Central Government and State Government
Constitutional Convention Participation/Representation Factions/Special Interests Separation of Powers
Ratification (1789)Bill of Rights (1791)
KEY PLAYERS…
FederalistsAlexander HamiltonJames MadisonJohn JayGeorge WashingtonBen Franklin
Anti-FederalistsThomas JeffersonPatrick HenryThomas PaineGeorge MasonGeorge Clinton
KEY ISSUES…
FederalistsStrong Central Gov’tAbility to TaxAbility to Wage WarNational Government Would Foster More CommercePreserving Order
Anti-FederalistsGovernment should rest with StatesPersonal Liberties Unprotected – No Bill of RightsCentral Power - TyrannicalCongress - AristocraticBelieved the Federalist Form of Government was Untested
Unanimity was clearly not one of the objectives of the framers of the US Constitution!! Similar arguments
continue to simmer today…
WOODROW WILSON (1856-1924)
President - 1913 to 1921 Exponent of Progressive Reform
Movement Scholar
Faculty Member at Bryn Mawr, Wesleyan, and Princeton
Visiting “Lecturer of Administration” at Johns Hopkins Notable Works
Congressional Government – 1885The Study of Administration – 1887
• Significant Starting Point in the Study of Public Administration
Good Administration was not Common in U.S.Characterized by:
CorruptionConfusionSinecurismObscurityFraudInefficiency
Civil servants were a Class of Politicians
HIS OPINION OF GOVERNMENT OPERATION
Government Too Focused on Political Issues when Administrative Issues were More Critical
Abolish or Alter System of Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances Unnecessarily Created Obscurity and Inefficiency
Promote Effectiveness, Efficiency, Formalized Administrative Law, Hierarchical Organization, and Professional and Educated Public Servants Believed all could be promoted simultaneously with
democracy
Politics-Administration Dichotomy Firm Stance on Issue is Questionable
Study of Administration as a Science Called for Comparative Study of Administration
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADMINISTRATION
WHO IS INVOLVED IN POLICYMAKING?
Citizens and interest groups can play a large role in setting the policy agenda.The media also plays a role in setting the policy agenda.Executive Branch President, Governors, Local Executives
Legislatures Congress, State Legislatures, Local Legislative Bodies
Agencies Organizations that actually decide how policy will be
implemented
THE COURTS AS POLICYMAKERS?
Much research has focused on the court systems actions in a policymaking contextIdeological compositions of courts can shape policymaking in a preemptive way. Lawmakers are concerned about the ultimate fate
of laws. “Limited political capital” of lawmakers. Relations between policymakers and state Supreme
Courts are important in many states. Hostile relationships- reductions in enactment of
laws. Friendly relationships- more enactment of laws.
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR…Formally had a role of party loyalist and one of ensuring needs of political supporters. Example: the Machine system with party
“bosses.”
Now mostly serves as an agent of the government. Important linkage between the profession,
government, and citizens. Often involved in influencing policies that affect
their department.
Must exercise some autonomy to make tough decisions as how to get things done. Implementation
Agent to help make citizens happy. Public input, encouragement of participation
PPP or P3Term PPP is fairly new termConcept of using private capital to provide public facilities is very old
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
17th century France constructed canals 18th and early 19th century Britain road repairsUntil mid-19th century most of London’s bridges Late 19th century the Brooklyn Bridge in New York
CONCEPT OF USING PRIVATE CAPITAL TO PROVIDE PUBLIC FACILITIES
The public sector reform movement (New Public Management) in the 1980s to accomplish:
Decentralization of governmentSeparate purchase of public services from provisionOutput/performance based measurement for public servicesContract out public services to the private sectorPrivatization of public services
PPP A RESULT OF:
Act of reducing role of government or increasing the role of the other institutions to produce goods and services A Public-Private Partnership is a contractual agreement between a public agency and a private sector entity
Skills and assets of each sector shared in delivering a service or facility for the use of the general publicEach party shares in the risks and rewards potential
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP) DEFINITION
Transportation Social infrastructure Public utilities Government offices Specialized services
PPP EXAMPLES…
Depends on the Form of Government
(Historically five forms: council-manager, mayor-council, commission, town meeting and representative town meeting)
Contract ExecutionPublic/ Private Entity Leadership
WHO IS IN CHARGE?
Sandy Springs, Georgia
After incorporation, and during recession, Sandy Springs, GA$14 million surplus$21 million reserve
Paved more roads in the community than county in past 20 years
New parks, established 125 person police force, and 89 firefighters with all new equipment
Improved EMS capability, established a state-of- the art, joint electronic 911 service with another city
Five new GA cities, ranging in size from 2,500 to almost 100,000
Cost per capita of the traditional cities to 5 PPP cities 128% higher
PPP “DARLING” (EXAMPLE)
Log-rolling and pork-barrel politics
Weakened market tests
Weaker Management
Lack of innovation
Corruption
Crowding Out
NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF CONTRACTING
CONCLUSIONS…
How does the Government Actually Operate and What Role Does the Public Administrator Play in it? Government operation is a complex combination
of administration, bureaucracy, politics, public and private agendas, mixed in with a touch of business principles
The Public Administrator’s primary role is to “wade into this pool” and extricate the policies (at times influencing and/or adjusting them) and then implement steps to execute the policies in an effective and hopefully, an efficient manner.