Understanding Public Administration

In this course, we focus on the basics of public administration. For the purposes of our discussion, a public servant is a government official or employee. Public servants play a critical role in the equitable delivery of public services to our communities.

A democratic republic is a country that is both a republic and a democracy. Common definitions of the terms democracy and republic often overlap, suggesting that many democracies function as republics, and many republics operate on democratic principles. Republic: "A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives...“Democracy: "A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives."

The ultimate purpose of a public servant is to sustain a democratic republic dedicated to the principle of ordered liberty. For the purposes of this course, let’s define ordered liberty in public administration as the balance of public good and individual rights.

Ordered liberty is an end fraught with conundrums and tensions, it is helpful to consider the nature of the relationship between order and liberty. The principle of equality has remained a core national value to which administrators hold a responsibility. There are three dimensions of equality that have implications for career public administrators.

Career administrators play a vital role in shaping both the process and substance of public service and implementing the rule of law. Rule of law refers to a principle of governance in which all persons, institutions and entities, public and private, are accountable to laws that are known, equally enforced, and independently adjudicated.

The legal foundation for public administration in the United States means that legal knowledge and analysis cannot be left exclusively to lawyers. Public servants of all stripes must cultivate an understanding of the Constitution and laws that guide their work. Public officials need to see how the legal dimensions of their work can be used to build trust and legitimacy in democratic institutions.

Understanding these functions of the law help public administrators realize success in providing the best possible service through their organizations.