Defining Public
Administration
Political Definitions of Public
Administration
Public administration is what government does.
As a profession, public administration has
developed values and ethical standards, but as an activity it merely reflects the cultural norms,
beliefs, and power realities of its society.
Public administration is the totality of the working day activities of all the world’s bureaucrats –
Political Definitions of Public
Administration
Public administration is both direct and
indirect.
Direct – provision of services like
mortgage insurance, mail delivery, and
electricity.
Indirect – when the government pays
Political Definitions of Public
Administration
Public administration is a phase in the
policy-making cycle.
Decisions and nondecisions are public
policy.
Administration does not end with
Political Definitions of Public
Administration
Public administration is implementing the
public interest.
The public interest is the universal label in which political actors wrap the policies and programs that they advocate.
The public interest is a commonly accepted good. The rise of administrative discretion in the face of legislative vagueness means that the job of the
Political Definitions of Public
Administration
Public administration is doing collectively
that which cannot be done so well
individually.
The legitimate object of government [is] to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but cannot do, at all, or cannot, so well do, for themselves – in their separate, and individual capacities – Abraham Lincoln.
Legal Definitions of Public
Administration
Because public administration is what a state
does, it is both created and bound by an
instrument of the law.
Public administration is the law in action.
Public administration is inherently the execution of a public law.
Every application of a general law is necessarily an act of administration.
Legal Definitions of Public
Administration
Public administration is regulation.
It is government telling citizens and
businesses what they may or may not do.
Regulation is one of the oldest functions of
government. Code of Hammurabi – “The
mason who builds a house which falls
down and kills the inmate shall be put to
death.” Driving to McDonald’s –
Legal Definitions of Public
Administration
Public administration is the king’s
largesse.
It is whatever goods, services, or honors
the ruling authority decides to bestow
(monarchy). Plaques and political
Legal Definitions of Public
Administration
Public administration is theft.
The primary culprit is redistribution.
Managerial Definitions of
Public Administration
Public administration is so much a
branch of management that many
graduate schools of management (or
business or administration) are
divided into public and private – and
now increasingly nonprofit –
Managerial Definitions of
Public Administration
Public administration is the executive
function of government.
Managerial Definitions of
Public Administration
Public administration is a management
specialty.
Top managers make the big decisions and are responsible for the overall success of the
organization.
Public administrators are found in middle management, the group responsible for the
execution and interpretation of top management policies and the day-to-day operation of an
Managerial Definitions of
Public Administration
Public administration is Mickey Mouse.
Anything that requires considerable effort with few results.
Often used to mean “red tape”, excessive
formality and attention to routine. Red ribbon that official used to use to tie up public
documents.
Managerial Definitions of
Public Administration
Public administration is art, not science – or
vice versa.
Public administration is actually both.
• It requires judgment, panache, and common sense. • It also requires technical skills that allow for the
digestion and transference of information.
Occupational Definitions of
Public Administration
Public administration is an
occupational category.
It is whatever public employees in the
world do.
Occupational Definitions of
Public Administration
Public administration is an essay
contest.
People in bureaucratic careers tend to rise
and fall on how well they can write. In a
game of shuffling paper, the person whose
memorandum ends up on top wins.
Occupational Definitions of
Public Administration
Public administration is idealism in
action.
Many people enter public service careers
because they are idealists; they believe in
and seek to advance noble principles.
Idealism draws people into public
Occupational Definitions of
Public Administration
Public administration is an academic field.
The study of the art and science of
management and incorporates as its subject matter all of the political, social, cultural, and legal environments that affect the running of public institutions.
Cross-disciplinary – political science, sociology, business administration,
Occupational Definitions of
Public Administration
Public administration is a profession.
A body of academic and practical
knowledge that is applied to the service of society.
A standard of success theoretically
measured by serving the needs of society rather than seeking purely personal gain. A system of control over the professional practice that regulates the education of new members and maintains both a code of
The Evolution of Public
Administration
The core content
Organization theory.
Bureaucratic behavior.
Personnel management.
Public finance and budgeting.
Policy analysis.
Case Study: Government
Response to the
September 11, 2001
American Airlines Flight 11(8:46 a.m., One
World Trade Center) and United Airlines
Flight 175 (9:03 a.m., Two World Trade
Center).
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.
Richard Sheirer, Director, New York City
Office of Emergency Services.
Activated Emergency Operations Center, 7 World Trade Center.
September 11, 2001
Destruction of Emergency Operations
Center by second crash.
Sheirer closes New York Harbor and ask
Pentagon to close New York air space.
Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik
spearheaded movement of personnel to “hot
zone”.
Sporadic communication, but established Condition Omega.
September 11, 2001
NYPD (NY Police Department) Emergency
Service Units and FDNY arrived four minutes
after first plane crash.
Began task of evacuating 25,000 people.
500 firefighters and 200 Port Authority Police.
FDNY (Fire Department NY) Commissioner Thomas Von Essen.
Collapse of South Tower damaged 75 Barclay
Street.
September 11, 2001
Transportation Commissioner Iris
Weinshall.
Isolated in Washington Heights, but set up a system of ferries and express and franchise buses.
Watercraft of all types escorted 500,000 people out of Manhattan.
September 11, 2001
City Council member and mayoral
candidate Peter Vallone.
Food and water, 59th Street Bridge.
By noon, securing New York City was a
local, state, and federal job.
Significant help from Governor George Pataki. Mayor Giuliani served as primary
Government Response after
9/11
FEMA.
National Guard.
NYPD.
Pier 92 command center.
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) – Door-to-door alerts on aid.
Ground Zero task force. Congressman Jerrold Nadler. 25,000 residents of lower Manhattan.
