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Questions for the
readings:
1. Civil Service Reform
in Great Britain (1880), Dorman B. Eaton.
Eaton states: “Government by parties is enfeebled and
debased by reliance upon a partisan system of appointments and removals;
and, for its most vigorous life and salutary influence, it is only needful
for the party majority to select, as the representative of its view and the
executors of its policy, the few high officers with whom rests the power to
direct the national affairs, and to instruct and keep in the line of their
duty the whole body of their subordinates through whose administrative work
that policy is to be carried into effect.
(p. 17)
Question 1.3 Does Eaton think that democratic
politics should be restricted to decision making prior to the administrative
function? How does he define the
administrative function?
Eaton states: “Patronage in the hands of members of
the legislature, which originated in a usurpation of executive functions,
increases the expenses of administration, is degrading and demoralizing to
those who possess it, is disastrous to legislation, tends to impair the
counterpoise and stability of the government; and it cannot withstand the
criticism of an intelligent people when they fairly comprehend its
character and consequences.” (p. 17)
Questions 1.2 What measures does Eaton favor for
reducing patronage?
Question 1.3 What are the essential elements of
Eaton’s 13 principles?
2. “The Study of
Administration” (1887), Woodrow Wilson.
Wilson states: “Administration is the most obvious part
of government; it is government in action; it is the executive, the
operative, the most visible side of government, and is of course as old as
government itself.” (p. 22)
Question 2.1 If Wilson thinks that administration is
the most obvious part of government, why does he think that it should be
depoliticized?
Wilson states: “It is harder for democracy to organize
administration than for monarchy.”
(p. 27)
Question 2.2 Does Wilson not think that individual
participation in the success of administrative functions is an important
element?
Wilson states: “The field of administration is a field
of business.” (p. 28)
Question 2.3 Does this mean, in Wilson’s view, that
there are natural parallels between the world of business and the public
sector?
3. Politics and
Administration (1900), Frank J. Goodnow.
Goodnow states: “These two functions of government may
for purposes of convenience be designated as Politics and
Administration. Politics has to do
with the policies or expressions of the state will. Administration has to do with the
execution of these policies.” (p.
35)
Questions 3.1 Does Goodnow in his article make the
case for maintaining a specialized cadre of specialists in
administration?
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