Public Administration Final

What are the most common causes of violence in the workplace? What can be done to prevent violent situations?

Workplace Violence (OSHA) Violence or threat of violence against workers. USDA - any act of physical violence, threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the worksite. Workplace violence can affect or involve employees, visitors, contractors, and other non-federal employees. Workplace violence includes, homicide, wounding, stalking, suicide attempt, threat, domestic violence, intimidation, and frightening behavior. The most common causes of violence in the workplace are excessive workload, lack of adequate time for task completion, inadequate supervision, uncertainty of organizational culture, lack of authority for meeting job responsibility, philosophical differences between company and employee, unexpected change in work/home environment, unresolved frustration, mental illness, revenge, insecurity, jealousy.

Hedonic Calculus

Created by Bentham and Stewart Used to measure pleasure and pain in the Utilitarian Approach Quantities Values of Utility: Intensity of pleasure/pain Duration of pleasure/pain How long will the feeling endure? Certainty in outcome How certain is the feeling Propinquity Nearness of the outcome How far off are these feelings of pleasure/pain likely to occur? Fecundity How likely is the feeling to remain? Will pleasure continue, or will it turn to pain? Purity The likelihood of a change in feeling When quantifying these feelings, you can decide on what will produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people

FED

Creates money from nothing, loans that money to US, charges interest on that money never enough money in existence to pay back that debt created back in 1913 with Federal Reserve Act -Additional legislation has shaped how this bank interacts in finance + commerce (Banking Act 1935) Central Bank -Influence interest rates and overall economy -tries to keep unemployment and inflation in check -Private bank, not subject to any taxes (State, local) -Have to pay taxes on real estate -Federal reserve doesn't print money (that is Mint and Dept of Treasury) -Issued against accruing interest on government bonds Bond: Temporary loan, any citizen can purchase a government bond and can make a loan to the federal government -Government will pay value of bond plus interest -Held in sum as part of annual national debt. -Profits used by the interest rates used to slowly recover the reserves -Federal Reserve alone determines who may purchase stock in the banks -Really expensive - only extremely wealthy people can afford the stock -Can't be sold on any stock exchange -You have to be invited to buy stock and once you do, you can't sell it - it can only be inherited -How most of America's elite families own their wealth -When US government via Congress or with presidential collaboration determines the economy is going sour, they can "stimulate" the government, making sure that currency is circulated -Need permission from the federal reserve - have to make a request for an increase in the circulation of money -All interest from bonds has to be turned over to federal reserve, and then they can give government federal reserve notes. -Government takes the money, deposits it to the bank, is added to what is already in circulation -Certain percentage of the new currency that is going to be circulated that is going to be held in reserve (right now 10%) -Assumption that someone will pay back money... and they don't -Economy tanks -First thing Congress will attempt to do: cut spending to federal agencies -Can increase tax rates Government can't really convince FED to print more money if they think people will continue to not pay them back

More on Zero-Based Budgeting

Nothing is safe. Every agency expense, every program cost, every service cost must be justified, for each budget cycle. Every agency begins with zero dollars based on justified expenses. Justification is key in this model. You must justify everything. Then repeat the next year. Some think this should be the primary way to budget because: 1. Priorities change. 2. Lower overall cost, since everything has to be justified. 3. Fights complacency. Cons: 1. After a bad year, a program can be cut, even if it is very important. Doesn't leave room for error. 2. Does not allow room for long term planning. 3. Too time consuming, agencies don't have time to write down every dollar they spend. While others think this will hold agencies accountable.

Deontology

We have to look at ethics and accountability from a process perspective. Even if the outcome is what we desire, a decision or behavior can still be unethical based on how they go to the expected outcome.

In his article "The Study of Ethics in the P.A. circulation," Rohr argues that regimes values serve as a proper way to consider ethics in the public sector. What two tasks are involved in the regime values approach? How should these two tasks by accomplished? Why are U.S. Supreme Court decisions helpful in completing the second task?

- Ethics approach - Tried to discern what we could gather from the nation's history and its writings and its public discourse the ideologies that we should follow in decision making - Public values come before personal values - Govern in order to promote the public interest -Find values in -Historical documents - Presidential debates and speeches - Supreme court decisions 1. Identify American values in the writings and speeches of outstanding statesmen, in major supreme court opinions, in scholarly interpretations of American history, and even in the rhetoric of standard fourth of July oratory. - For example, it would seem one could safely assert that freedom, property, and equality are values of the American people. 2. Far more difficult than simply naming some values of Americans is the task of infusing them with meaning suitable for ethical reflection - When Americans invoke symbols such as freedom, property, and equality, there is some minimal content to which these symbols point and that this content embodies some of the values of our society - These values may not be the highest values to which a regime might aspire, but nevertheless they carry some normative weight for American bureaucrats precisely because they are values of the American people - Infusing them with meanings suitable for ethical reflection -Debate over two things 1) US Constitution and what It embodies 2) Interpretations of law that ultimately stems from debate over the US Constitution Anatomy of Court decision i) Opinion of the court, those who agreed with the decision, majority ii) Dissent -Through the arguments, you get rich dialogue that helps illuminate how we should illuminate values

Legal

- the US constitution as well as federal laws govern the behavior and most of the tasks of public personnel. What kinds of behavior a public employee may have. What they may say or not say. What they may wear or not wear. The doctrine of unconstitutional conditions-- those who work for the government, may not face consequences for exercising constitutional right and liberties. It doesn't matter if working for the government is a privilege, what matters is the constitution, and following that. It doesn't matter where you work, government can't condition your work by making you give up certain liberties and civil rights. Doctrine of privilege-- public employment is not a right, but a privilege. There is no law that guarantees you a job with the government, so you may be asked to give up certain things. If you work in government, you have to sacrifice some things to keep the privilege of this status. The court goes back and forth on which to apply. Some don't know the legal limitations placed on them by their jobs. As a public employee, there are times where you may be sued for violating a citizen's rights. And you can't just say you didn't know. You're still responsible even if you don't know Sovereign immunity- the government can do no wrong. They are sovereign and immune from being sued. The only way you can sue a government agency or a public employee is if they give you permission to sue. They would only waive this is: if they think they're gonna win. It's a matter of legitimacy. If we open ourselves up for suit, there are times we make mistakes, let's open ourselves up for discussion and punishment. But if you don't allow this, you can be sure there will be resentment. If you allow a redress of grievances, then your citizens are more likely to believe the government is legitimate

General schedule:

-Includes professional positions, clerical, administrative, and technical classification of 70 percent of federal employees 10 steps per grade, 15 grades takes years to move between steps and several years to move between grades. 1. Gs1-Gs7 (entry level)[under 40k] 2. GS8-GS12 [mid-level](around 50-90k) 3. GS13-15 (high level)[90-100k]

Managerial Function of Public Personnel

1. Set of daily tasks and responsibilities that an individual must complete and they are directly related to job performance and evaluation -Such as position classification, personnel selection, promotion, policy implementation - fulfilling their specific congressional mandate

Steps to the Federal Hiring Process

1. Vacancy - Written notice of Job Availability 2. Position Review - you review the job description and update and revise it 3. Position classification-- it gets a reference number and a compensation pay grade (which tells you what level the position would be, which in turn tells you what the salary range is). Also includes things like affirmative action certifications. 4. (Active, Passive Recruitment ) - not linear because sometimes you begin this process prior to vacancies 5. Applicant Review (1) Compare your applicants to eligibility criteria. Resume, application requirements 6. Applicant Review (II) - interviewing, reference checks (a law that these have to be checked!!), testing 7. Negotiation/Offer 8. Background Checks - Would be far to costly to background check every offer 9. Probationary Period - you're walking on eggshells, they do everything to prove themselves, because they can be replaced with no issue. They don't have to give a reason. If you are a probationary employee, you can be fired for any reason. 10. Considered Tenured Once You Pass Probation, reasonable expectation your position will be continued barring cause (sexual harassment, criminal activity, incompetence etc.) 11. Job training, sexual harassment training, etc.

More on workplace violence

Also, most workplace violence starts verbally and ends up violent. Those who kill are typically white males between 25-30 years old. Keeps to himself, loner. History of violence and preoccupation with weapons. Violent workers often display signs of depression, exhibit destructive behavior, and antisocial personality disorder and borderline personality disorder.

Power v. Authority

An example of power but no authority, Oprah, and interest groups. An example of authority but no power, Trump, the Supreme Court (their rulings have to be enforced!!). Examples of power and authority, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, and dictator really.

Progressive Tax

Any tax that incurs a higher rate on someone with a higher income. Most income taxes are progressive.

Immanuel Kant

Deontologist ethics are things we are duty bound to pursue. There is a duty to act morally. The duty comes from- motive and free agency. Motives matter, the morality of any decision, is found in the motive. Not in the act itself. Categorical Imperatives - Commands you MUST follow regardless of desire, moral obligations. Moral law binding on all of us. Hypothetical Imperatives - Hypothetical Imperatives - Commands you should follow if you want something (if, then) about prudence rather than morality, you can choose to work against them By knowing the categorical imperative, we can know our duty in situations Violating the categorical imperative is unethical - never supposed to violate the moral law even if there is a good reason behind it

Line Item Veto

Executive Power to take certain things (lines) out of bill/law to appease his agenda without input from other branches of the government. Ruled unconstitutional. Tantamount to a unilateral amendment or repeal by the executive of only parts of statutes authorizing federal spending, and therefore violated the Presentment Clause of the United States Constitution. -Although the United States president doesn't have the power to execute this, it is allowed by most governors and other executives at more local levels.

Why is representative bureaucracy an important concept in public administration? Explain the difference between active and passive representation. Why does Frederickson support of social equity? Draw from his article "The State of Social equity in American Public Administration."

Government employees should mirror that of their citizens. Representative bureaucracy is important because civil service should reflect the population it serves. Ideally each citizen should have an equal voice in government; however, those that are historically marginalized continue to suffer from that marginalization and those that enjoy privilege continue to enjoy it. We are still in a situation where those who work for government don't mirror the citizens they represent. Equity would provide for a deeper understanding of societal limitations between social groups and employees. The ultimate goal of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action programs. Active Representation: An expectation that individuals would advocate on the interest for whom they represent. Passive Representation: The degree to which administration demographically mirrors the composition of society. More symbolic Systemically unable to alter policies Passive not good enough any more

Civil rights act of 1964

Intended to fight private sector discrimination. USDJ (EEOC)- implement the CRA 1964. It prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. Gender identity and sexuality are not included in this act. In order to prove you were discriminated against, you have to prove there was intent (which is very hard to do). The laws from this act, are not comprehensive, there are loopholes because this was a compromise. You are not bound by the CRA 1964, if you run a business with 15 employees or less. This was to appease southern mom and pop shops.

Political

Intertwined with Managerial - . Representativeness-- your government employees should mirror that of your citizens. Jobs should be given equitably. Bu what does that really mean to represent citizens. Scapegoating-- public administrators are gonna take the hits normally. They are the first to blame when things go wrong. Primarily involves three things-- personnel has to be responsive to: congress, the organization itself, and the citizens.

Utilitarianism

John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham - "father of Utilitarianism" created hedonic calculus A teleological approach to ethics To achieve the greatest good for the most people "Good" actions bring pleasure and happiness "Bad" actions bring pain and suffering Key is pleasure + pain There is always going to be someone on the bottom All about outcomes It's okay to lie if it will get us to our goal As Machiavelli said, "the ends justify the means" - you can be unethical in practice if the end result is good

Position Classification

Part of the hiring process - In the hiring process. It gets a reference number and a compensation pay grade (which tells you what level of position it would be, which in turn tells you the salary range. Also includes things like affirmative action certifications The use of formal job descriptions to organize all jobs in a civil service merit system into classes on the basis of duties and responsibilities, for the purposes of delineating authority, establishing chains of command, and providing equitable salary scales.

Steps in the Federal Budgeting Process

Prep Cycle - OMB Sends out notice to federal Agencies, Executive Agencies Submit Agency Budget Expectation to OMB by first Monday in February. Congressional Budget Office: Examines first budget proposal, then submits it to Congressional committees by March 1. Goes to Congressional Committees on Budget, who must pass budget resolution by April 15. Get an appropriation bill: this is usually more difficult, because in early stages you are dealing with small committees. Now you are dealing with entire legislation and executive. Lots of debates. It is the house and senate appropriations committees that pass this bill. Appropriations Committees are responsible for determining the precise levels of budget authority, or allowed spending, for all discretionary programs. These bills must pass congress by May 15. They government will shut down if they don't. If the bill is passed, you have a budget in place and it comes into effect October 1st. Through September 30th

SES

Senior Executive Service - Highest rank in agency below Secretary, merit-based 120-150K a year-- elites, worked for many years in government and been promoted. Under secretaries, level just below political appointees, a merit based position.

Organizational Standpoint of Leadership

Stephen Robbins - Leadership is about influencing groups toward organizational goals. -ability to influence and meet organizational goals. If you can't get your group to meet your goals, then you are not an effective leader. Sometimes this is counterintuitive to what we generally think about leadership.

Street-Level Bureaucracy

Subset of public agency or government institution where the civil servants work who have direct contact with members of the general public. Street- level civil servants carry out and/or enforce the action required by a government's laws and public policies. Examples include, police officers, border guards, and social workers. They have direct contact with the public they serve.

Equity

The act of being fair and impartial Different than equality Rather than give everyone the same thing, individuals who need more get more. Fairness as opposed to sameness

Administrative evil

The use of one's government positions to cause harm knowingly or unknowingly - The idea that people who work for government often have access to power that the average citizen does not have. This power shouldn't be used to cause harm, but it does happen - Many claim "I was simply following orders" - When this occurs, it's an unethical practice. The reason why doesn't matter. - A lot of admins have to decide if they want to engage in this. They have three options: engage, resign, or whistleblow.

Behavior theories are opposite trait theory

They believe any trait or quality, we observe, is not specific to a person, but instead a result of behavior tendencies. Leadership styles is discussed in this theory. Autocratic vs. democratic leader. Are they a engager? Delegater? Behaviorists do not believe in universal leadership traits, anyone can be a leader if they are willing to learn leadership traits.

Zero-Based Budgeting

Zero Based, must be built from the ground up every budget cycle. Rejection of the incremental decision-making model of budgeting. It demands a re-justification of the entire budget submission (from ground zero), whereas incremental budgeting essentially respects the outcomes of previous budgetary decisions (collectively referred to as the budget base) and focuses examination on the margin of change from year to year.

Authority

legitimate legal and formal prerogative to make decisions that are legally binding to

Incremental Budgeting

method of budget review that focuses on the increments of increase or decrease in the budget of existing programs. Incremental budgeting, which is often called traditional budgeting, is a counter-school of thought to more rational, systems-oriented approaches, such as zero-based budgeting.

Power

person's ability to impose his or her will. Ability to get a person to do what they otherwise wouldn't do. Organizationally we think the ability to produce intended outcomes.

Trait Theory of Leadership

there are universal personality traits, that leaders have, more so than non-leaders. Because of those traits, which the person possesses, the leader becomes attractive to followers. By this definition, you either have these traits or you don't. It is often called, "the great man" theory. The question should become, what traits are attractive to followers. John Gardner primary researcher for trait theory. His leadership attributes: physical vitality and stamina, intelligence and action-oriented judgement, eagerness to accept responsibility, task competence, understanding to followers and their needs, skill in dealing with people, need for achievement, capacity to motivate people, courage resolution, trustworthiness, decisiveness, self-confidence, assertiveness, adaptability/flexibility. From this theory, leadership CAN'T be taught.