Chapter 1: Accountability

what is the essence of modern government?

"we the people identify problems that we expect the government will solve, to promote the general welfare."

what was the historical growth of government like?

-National bank 1913 -FDR's New Deal -:Lyndon B. John son's War on Poverty -George W. Bush investigating citizens for the purpose of eradicating terrorism -affordable care act

what was Colonial American government like?

-deep distrust in administrative power -intentionally left aspects of administration vague -avoided tyranny

elements of accountability

-fiscal accountability -process accountability -program accountability -political accountability

what is political accountability?

-political scrutiny -high standard of ethical behavior -public servants

what are the three themes of public administration?

-politics -performance -accountability

what is an example of accountability by the government?

BP Deepwater Horizon and Flint Water Crisis

what is program accountability?

a public program achieves its purpose as defined in law

how does accountability have to do with public administration?

a relationship between people (who is accountable to whom) about actions (what are they accountable for)

what is fiscal accountability?

agency officials spend money on the programs they are charged with managing

what is accountability?

answerability to whom for what

what is inevitable?

discretion

what do Americans expect government to be?

effective, efficient, equitable, and accountable

what is the three aspects of performance of the government?

effectiveness -efficiency -running government like business

responses to accountability problem

exit, voice, loyalty, neglect model

what is efficiency?

goods and services at the lowest cost in the fastest way

what is public administration?

government sets goals and creates complex organizations to meet the goals

what is process accountability?

how agencies perform their tasks

what is a whistleblower?

how much obedience do government officials owe to organizational superiors and elected officials

where are standards of ethics higher?

in the public sector

what is effectiveness?

producing high quality goods and services

what office conducts program analysis?

the US Government Accountability Office

what is exit?

the decision by members of an organization to leave especially because they disagree with polities and programs

what is voice?

the decision by members of an organization to remain within an organization and protest policies and programs with which they disagree

public service

the quality of government depends on the quality of those who work in government and respect bureaucratic accountability and ethical behavior

what is politics?

who gets what, when, and how