Representative Bureaucracy is a theory examining the internal relationship within a bureaucratic system. A representation from a broader group of people might result in policy-making decision help reconcile the problems of under-representativeness. Representative bureaucracy contributes to resolving the social conflicts, and also to improve internal democracy. This paper will attempt to accomplish three tasks, 1) engaging in a brief overview on Representative Bureaucracy and discussion of the theory both in the passive representation and the active representation; 2) examines principal-agent theory that contributes to the understanding in representative bureaucracy in different views, and 3) explore diverse public values in representative bureaucracy such as democracy, responsiveness and equity, to establish an understanding of how representative bureaucracy approached the significant theoretical as well as practical matters in public administration. Representative Bureaucracy can be applied to strengthen the representativeness and responsiveness in practical decision-making environment by representing minorities’ interests. Introduction The question of the proper role of …show more content…
In this paper, especially, would focus on the Colin Talbot’s book to build the understanding of performance management. Talbot (2010) addressed an issue with performance after it became a fashion. As a political scientist, Talbot outlined his book with focusing on the performance of public organizations. Admittedly, measuring the performance or effectiveness of any activities or institutions is always a crucial theme in academic and practical realms of studies in order to evaluate them properly. There have been multiple types of research on performance based on the reason. Especially, in empirical research in political science, one’s effectiveness is the ultimate dependent
Representation: the effort of elected officials to look out for the interests of those who elect them
Often, when the discussion of American bureaucracy is broached in conversation, those holding these conversations often think of the many men and women who operate behind the scenes within the government. This same cross section of Americans is looked upon as the real power within the federal government and unlike the other branches of government, has little to no oversight. A search of EBSCO resulted in the following definition, an organization “structure with a rigid hierarchy of personnel, regulated by set rules and procedures” (Bureaucracy, 2007). Max Weber believed that a bureaucracy was technically the most efficient form of organization, one structured around official functions that are bound by rules, each function having its own specified competence (2007). This wide ranging group of Americans has operated within the gaps, behind the scenes, all under the three core branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The division of government into three branches and separate powers gives each branch both exclusive powers and some additional power...
Hall, Daniel E. Administrative Law: Bureaucracy in a Democracy. 5th ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2012. Print.
Congress and the Bureaucracy has a special relationship of checks and balances. There are methods set up by the constitution that allow Congress to influence the bureaucracy. In doing so, Congress is often able to hold a considerable amount of control over the bureaucracy.
Modern Bureaucracy in the United States serves to administer, gather information, conduct investigations, regulate, and license. Once set up, a bureaucracy is inherently conservative. The reason the bureaucracy was initiated may not continue to exist as a need in the future. The need or reason may change with a change in the times and the culture needs. A bureaucracy tends to make decisions that protect it and further it’s own existence, possibly apart from the wishes of the populace. It may not consistently reflect what might be optimal in terms of the needs and wants of the people. Local governments employ most of the United States civil servants. The 14 cabinet departments in the U.S. are run day-to-day by career civil servants, which have a great deal of discretionary authority.
The first ideal concept from the constitution is a representative democracy. A representative democracy is a system where the citizens elect officials to serve on their behalf. A representative democracy is a form of “Republicanism”(Marks;9/8,16). This form of democracy shouldn’t be mistaken with direct democracy. Where all of the citizens vote on public policies and what the country does. On the
This essay will discuss the mainstream and critical perspectives of bureaucracy and post-bureaucracy. It will begin by examining the characteristics of bureaucracy and then compare the mainstream and the critical views. Post-bureaucracy will then be discussed using the same structure.
...r pillars of public administration are equally important in the process of public administration and complement one another in the provision of quality public service. When public administrators have economy in mind they focus on the best combination of available resources to provide optimum public service. To ensure that public service is not limited to only a section of the public, the issue of equity is taken into consideration so that public interest is realized. Efficiency and effectiveness additionally go hand in hand in ensuring that allocated resources are used in the best possible manner to attain set goals. Thus whereas the first three public administration pillars – Economy, efficiency and effectiveness are concerned with how public service is provided the fourth and most recent addition (Equity) concerns with for whom public service is provided.
Pandey, S. K., Coursey, D. H., Moynihan, D. P., (2007). Organizational effectiveness and bureaucratic red tape. Public Performance & Management Review 30 (3), pp 398-425.
We all have experienced the inefficiencies of the present form of government. We are in a unique position to answer the most important political question of all: ¬ "whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice." If we are up to the challenge, our actions will have great worldwide significance. The operations of the federal government will be most extensive and important in times of war and danger; those of the State governments, in times of peace and security.
Since its emergence as a field of study, there have been some important contributions to public administration. Its goal has always been to improve productivity which then improves workplace performance. All of the contributions have been aimed at completing the work with the highest level of efficiency and at the lowest cost.
In the future I would like to see myself, as a continuously promoted public official who could possibly become a pro-active politician in today’s demanding political arena. To achieve this, I would like to gain more knowledge which can help me reach intellectual maturity to the latest practices adopted in the field of Public Administration. My desire for self-development in this area and curiosity to learn past and contemporary developments in different societies will help me to solve the problems easily.
... EVALUATION OF NEW PUBLIC MANAGEMENT REFORMS. International Public Management Review, 34-35. M. Petrescu, e. a. (2010). The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'.
According to Sapru R.K. (2008) p370-371 the traditional ideal of public administration which inclined to be firm and bureaucratic was based on processes instead of outcomes and on setting procedures to follow instead of focusing on results. This paradigm can be regarded as an administration under formal control of the political control, constructed on a firmly ranked model of bureaucracy, run by permanent and neutral public servants, driven only by public concern. In emerging nations the administration was true bureaucracy meaning government by officers. In this perspective Smith (1996) p235-6 perceived that“the bureaucracy controls and manages the means of production through the government. It increases chances for bureaucratic careers by the creation of public figures,demanding public managers, marketing boards.
Bureaucracy is an organizational design based on the concept of standardization. “It is characterized by highly routine operating tasks achieved through specialization, very formalized rules and regulations, tasks that are grouped into functional departments, centralized authority, narrow spans of control, and decision making that follows the chain of command” (Judge & Robbins, 2007, p.